Commonwealth Games to showcase our youth power

The 2010 Commonwealth Games will see a major show of youth power. The gen next will be seen managing flow of traffic, information kiosks and guiding tourists at heritage sites during the mega event.

For the purpose, a 20,000-strong force of volunteers is being roped in from colleges and universities. The Organising committee for the Games has already started a recruitment drive for students, who would be linked to a major ‘Sports Management System’ with data on games, venues and other operations.

The tourism and culture ministry is chalking out a ‘learn and earn’ scheme for the youth. As per the plan, about 3,000 students will be imparted a special training in tourism promotion and monument conservation. The students will be deployed at strategic spots during the 15-day long event in the capital.

“The youth brigade will be deputed at all the tourist and heritage sites. About 5,000 information kiosks will be set up at the sports stadia, games village and parts of central Delhi manned by these guides. The same facility will be provided at airports, railway stations and the Inter State Bus Terminals,” a state tourism official told FE.

The selected youth will be deployed with service teams as per their educational qualifications and interests. To make the organization foolproof, over 1,000 professionals are being roped in as well.

Sports ministry official points out that youth were engaged on a large-scale in the Asiad Games of 1982 but there was no modern technology at that time to co-ordinate their tasks.

The forthcoming Commonwealth Games will see modern technology enhancing the use of India‘s youth power. Nearly 8,000 players from 71 countries will participate in the event to be hosted here in October 2010.