*Reviews arrangements for cycling expedition
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 13: Minister of Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Friday unveiled the logo and website of Jammu and Kashmir Sports Development Association (JKSDA) here at Civil Secretariat.
The website launched by the Association www.tour-dekashmir would provide the activities of the JKSDA carried for promotion of tourism and sports in the State.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Shalendar Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Abdul Gani Mir, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atul Duloo, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Talat Parvez, President, JKSDA, Bashir Ahmad Malik and Vice President, JKSDA, Rauf Trumboo were present on the occasion.
On the occasion the arrangements for organizing 5-day National level cycling extravaganza in Kashmir valley being held from 22nd of this month were also reviewed.
The 350-kilometre and five day national level cycling musical is being organized by J&K Sports Development Association (JKSDA) in collaboration with Tourism Department, with an objective to promote sports and adventure tourism in the Kashmir valley.
JKSDA has been organizing this event since 2000 and is now turning it into national level 5-stage event on the pattern of Tour-de-France. It will be the first of its kind cycling event in the Country which is tour event in true sense.
The event would be flagged off on September 22 at Verinag wherein around 70 top riders, including 30 national riders would be participating.
The Minister after reviewing the Tour project gave his nod to the event and assured organizers of full support from Tourism department.
He said it is an encouraging step and organizers need to be applauded for coming up with the idea of turning this annual event into national level. He said that Cycling tour events have got great potential in the promotion of Tourism sector and this event has potential to turn out as showpiece event for J&K in future.
On the inaugural day the riders will compete from Verinag to Pahalgam. The Minister said the tour will cover all the major tourist destinations of Kashmir during its five day programme.
Tourism Minister assured organizers of promoting this event in big way and making it an annual feature in Tourism department calendar.