All set for hosting National Inter District Junior Athletic Meet

Tirupati: All set for hosting the National Inter District Junior Athletic Meet (NIDJAM)-2018 for the first time at SVU Tarakarama stadium here on Thursday from December 1-3. About 4,116 school-level athletics from 414 districts are participating in the national-level athletic meet.

The walls on either side of the roads leading to Tarakarama stadium were colourfully painted and illuminated with electric lights. More than 758 coaches and team managers are coming to temple city accompanied by players. Ground experts of the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) have brought a new look to the stadium.

They have checked the tracks prepared for 100, 400 and 600 metres running and inspected pits and foam cushions for long and high jumps. Also, AFI officials inspected accommodation and food arrangements for players, vehicle parking, reception centre and AFI camp. The varsity ground was handed over to the AFI authorities on Thursday evening for conducting the NIDJAM from December 1.

Tirupati Urban SP KKN Anburajan, who is directly supervising the security inside and outside the stadium, has drafted 700 cops for security and regulating traffic. Similarly, women police also deputed for the safety of girls. Players from Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have reached Tirupati by Thursday evening and reported at AFI camp office.

Media centre opened

District Collector P S Pradyumna and Tirupati MLA M Suguna have jointly inaugurated media centre at SVU Tarakarama stadium here on Thursday for the National Inter District Junior Athletic Meet (NIDJAM)-2018. Addressing the media, the Collector made an appeal to the media to give wide publicity for encouraging students and youth in sports.

The media centre has facilities like high-speed broadband internet facility for all computers and update boards for latest information. He stated that district administration with cooperation of the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) has made elaborate arrangements to host the national level athletics meet. More than 700 officials and staff from various government departments have been drafted to facilitate the players participating in NIDJAM, the Collector informed. He mentioned a mini medical aid centre was set up to treat the injured players during the athletics meet.