NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS: 3 Awardees tested Covid positive, won’t be able to make it for the online ceremony.
August 29th is a calendar date annually celebrated as National Sports Day in India ever since 2012. The day is celebrated to acknowledge and pay tribute to the Hockey legend of the country- Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary. The Day carries utmost importance and prestige for the entire sports fraternity and acts a great motivation for all the fierce sports enthusiasts working hard to make the nation proud. The President bestow various sports related awards like Arjuna, Dronacharya, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna to honor the sportsmen and their trainers who brought glory to the nation. Last year, during National Sports Day 2019, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Fit India Movement to encourage everyone to work for a fitter lifestyle and hence fitter India.
In this year of 2020, where the world is fighting against the pandemic, Sports Ministry begun preparations for the event back since April by collecting documents of nominated athletes through online submission. Due to pandemic, hard copies of nominations were not being physically sent. The copies were duly attested by the applicants and were allowed to send the same before the due date of applications.
This year’s award ceremony will be conducted on an online platform organized by Sports Authority of India (SAI). The President will join the conference from President’s house while Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Kiren Rijiju and other designated members will join through Vigyan Bhawan. Winners will be present at SAI Centers in various locations throughout the country. The Centers have been well sanitized and arranged keeping in view the health and safety standards for everyone.
There are total 74 awards quartered into seven categories. However, out of 74 only 65 award winners will be attending the functions from various locations. Remaining 9 won’t be attending on account of several factors like being quarantine, out of country, ill etc. It has been reported by SAI that 3 award winners have been tested positive for Covid-19. The function will be streamed live on Doordarshan channel for the audience. The day surely encourages and inspires every one to indulge into Sports and take an off from sedentary lifestyle.
