The Uttarakhand government is preparing to host the 38th National Games with support from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). The state administration has received official preliminary consent from IOC, which has been designated as the bronze sponsor of the event.
“IOC will give sponsorship to Uttarakhand for this event. Uttarakhand has officially received the information of preliminary consent. After this, Uttarakhand made the IOC ‘bronze sponsor’ of the National Games. Now IOC will also be seen in the promotion of the event,” a release stated.
The IOC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department will soon finalize the sponsorship amount. A board meeting of the IOC is proposed for January 28, coinciding with the inauguration of the National Games, where the decision will be confirmed.
According to Amit Sinha, Chief Executive Officer of the National Games, the IOC has sent an official mail regarding sponsorship, confirming its role as a bronze sponsor.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been actively working to secure sponsorships for the National Games. During a recent visit to Delhi, Dhami met Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri, who is an invitee for the Games, to seek sponsorship support from IOC and ONGC.
Pratik Joshi, an official with the National Sports Secretariat, noted that based on past experiences, the decision was made to categorize IOC as a bronze sponsor.
The third-largest shooting range in India is being developed at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun for the National Games. With a capacity of 160 targets, it will surpass Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi (80 targets per event) and the MP Shooting Range in Bhopal (60 targets per event).
This state-of-the-art facility is expected to position Uttarakhand as a key venue for national and international shooting competitions. The National Games’ shooting events will be held here, featuring 60 targets each for the 10-meter and 25-meter ranges, along with 40 targets for the 50-meter range.