Gulmarg (J-K), February 23 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah advocated for the introduction of artificial snow in Gulmarg to boost tourism and promote the destination as a winter sports hub.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of the sixth Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) in north Kashmir's Baramulla, Abdullah said that Gulmarg remains the premier venue for winter sports in India, and changing weather patterns require a transition in infrastructure.
"It is a significant achievement that Gulmarg is hosting the winter games for the sixth time. This shows that there is no better place in the country for winter sports. However, the reality is that weather patterns are changing. We never thought it would be so warm in Gulmarg in February. This is a reality, and we need to accept it. We will take whatever steps are necessary," the chief minister said.
Abdullah said that weather patterns are changing and becoming unpredictable, and the government needs to re-evaluate its long-term planning for winter sports infrastructure.
"Wherever winter games take place around the world, artificial snow is essential. The Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, which concluded yesterday, could not have been held without it. Since the 1970s, it has been proven that artificial snow is a requirement for every Winter Olympics," he said.
The chief minister committed to creating similar mechanisms in Gulmarg to support both athletes and the tourism sector. He added that winter tourism is very important for the region, and the government "will take steps to promote it".
Responding to a query about women's participation in the KIWG, Abdullah described winter sports as an effective way to bridge gender differences, noting that men and women compete at nearly equal levels in almost every discipline.
"It is very encouraging to see greater women participation in these games. However, we need to ensure that we provide proper facilities and coaching, so that we can eventually compete for medals," he said.
Abdullah expressed regret that the participation of athletes from Jammu and Kashmir has not yet reached medal-winning standards on the global stage.
"I hope that within my lifetime, we can improve our performance. We have seen India win individual Olympic medals in athletics and shooting during the Summer Games. Hopefully, we will see this in winter sports as well," he added.
