JLN Stadium’s Post-Concert Chaos:
Athletes hone their skills at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, aiming for Olympic glory. However, following a recent concert, the venue faces disarray with liquor bottles scattered.
Rotting food litters the running track, broken chairs lie around, and many hurdles have been damaged. Athletes are noticeably upset. This turmoil stems from the recent Diljit Dosanjh concert attended by thousands on October 26 and 27.
Athlete Beant Singh Shares Discontent
Post-event, the stadium is strewn with liquor and empty water bottles, food items, and packaging. The mess has forced athletes to halt their practice. A video depicting this was shared by runner Beant Singh on Instagram.
Additionally, during a visit by the Aaj Tak team, the stadium's soggy, stained running tracks highlighted the extent of disarray. Athletes expressed their grievances, indicating significant challenges.
Stadium to Be Restored by Deadline
This concert was under a contract between the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Saregama, which rented the venue until November 1. The debris will be cleared by then, ensuring a pristine handover to SAI as per the agreement.
Currently, no state, national, or international level tournaments or events are scheduled at this venue. Under the ‘Come and Play’ scheme, athletes practice in the evenings. On October 28, they attempted some cleanup, but restoration is ongoing.
SAI Insiders Report to Aaj Tak:
- Athletes practice in the evenings under the ‘Come and Play’ initiative. No camps for elite, junior, or sub-junior athletes are currently underway. - No current tournaments or games at the state, national, or international level are scheduled. - Concert organizers have assured the stadium will be returned in the original condition. - Over two days, more than 70,000 attended the concert. It's expected to take over 24 hours to clean the venue, with completion anticipated by October 29.
