The decision by the Dept.of Youth Empowerment & Sports (DYES) to collect entry fee to enter Sri Kanteerava Stadium has shocked the International/State, budding athletes & Coaches.Till now,they have been using the facility for training sessions for Free till now. Instead of promoting youngsters to take up sports as career & win laurels for the state & for the country,the government is trying to make things difficult for them. Sri Kanteerava Stadium is a government stadium with reasonably good facilities for the athletes to train throughout the year.Karnataka has produced innumerable athletes who have done very well in the National/ International arena.
I am a regular visitor to the Sri Kanteerava Stadium along with my family for training . I am 77 years & my wife is 71 years & she is an International Sportsperson represented the country in the WORLD CUP in Women's Hockey held in Edinburgh,Scotland in 1975,ASIA CUP & FIVE Nation Tournament held in Spain.She represented Karnataka in number of Master's National Athletic Meets & won several Gold Medals.She won 9 Medals (Gold-5,Silver-3 & Bronze-1) in THRRE ASIAN Master's athletic meets.
In the interest of the sportsmen/women,Kids and all sports loving citizens of the city, I appeal to the authorities concerned to reconsider their decision to levy entry fees & address the grievances of the sportspersons & sport loving people immediately.