Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first Khelo India School Games (KISG) at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.
- The Khelo India School Games (KISG) are being held from 31st January to 8th February 2018 in New Delhi.
- This week-long inaugural edition will be an Under-17 event where athletes have been invited to participate across 16 disciplines: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Shooting, Swimming, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
- 199 gold medals, 199 silver medals and 275 bronze medals are at stake in the Khelo India School Games (KISG).
- The ceremony showcased the rich 'Guru-Shishya' tradition of the country in grand style.
- The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in the country at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establishing India as a great sporting nation.
- Its basic aim is to encourage young talent from the schools in various disciplines and groom them as future champions
- According to Mr. Modi, it was the first step towards making the country a strong contender at the Olympic level.
- While addressing the crowd he urged the youth to take up to sports actively as it is an important tool for the development of the nation.
- He mentioned that the event will highlight the country's sporting talent and its potential to the world.
- He said that Khelo India was not only about winning medals. It is an effort to give strength to a mass movement for playing more. It would help in making sports more popular across the nation.
- It was announced that the best 1000 athletes will get a scholarship of Rs 5 lakh every year. The identified talented players in these Games will be provided an annual financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh per annum for a period of eight long years.
