STAGE SET FOR ‘GULMARG GLOBAL DERBY 2009’

ABID KHAN

Srinagar, Mar 1:The stage is set for the international skiing championship, ‘Gulmarg Global Derby 2009’ which will kick start at the world famous ski resort on Monday.The Tourism Department is organizing the winter sports carnival, to put Gulmarg on the map of international ski circuit. Around 20 top skiers and medalists from all over the country and abroad including Australia, New Zealand and England are arriving to participate in the championship likely to be inaugurated by the chief minister, Omar Abdullah. The event is being sponsored by ESSAR Group. “The motive behind these events is to promote winter tourism in a big way across the world,” director Tourism, Farooq Shah said. “It’ll in fact serve us in two ways: One it will promote Gulmarg internationally and second it will make it popular among the domestic tourists.” Asked why it was named ‘Gulmarg Global Derby 2009’ he said: “The most important constituent of the championship is the ‘Derby Skiing Race’ in which skiers will ski down from 13000 ft high Apharwat range to Gulmarg, 30 foreign skiers and 25 local skiers will take part in the event.”The other events that will feature in the international event are Alpine run super slalom and cross country ski. In alpine run super slalom event, 60 participants will take part while as in cross-country ski event, 70 skiers will participate. He said Gulmarg is fully equipped to organize international events and every measure will be taken to make the event a success. “There is always a scope for up-gradation,” Shah said. “We will do our best to improve facilities there.” He said Gulmarg will be developed into a world-class ski destination in coming years. “Currently it is reckoned as the cheapest destination which helps us to attract more and more skiing lovers,” he said. “In future we will organize bigger events to promote Gulmarg in a big way.” “The reason why skiers from across the world like Gulmarg is the quality of snow here which is best suited to skiing,” he said. “The second phase of cable car gondola which carries a skier to the height of over 13000 ft is an added attraction.”About the snow condition in Gulmarg he said, “Recently there was fresh snowfall in Gulmarg. The higher and lower reaches of Gulmarg are covered with a thick white blanket and the slopes are ideal for skiing. This will help us showcase Kashmir as a big tourist destination”.Apart from main organiser which is ESSAR group, tourism department is coloboarting with winter Games Federation of Indiana and Winter Games Association of J&K in organising the championship.“We are making every effort to make this championhsop a grand success and we are hopefull that it come out as major sucdc4es and after it Gulmarg will be put on the global ski map of world” he said.

Published in greater kashmir on march 2 link : http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=2_3_2009&ItemID=4&cat=4