Sporting grounds

Indian games might not have found place in the nine games at the Commonwealth Youth Games, but that does not mean that they have not made their presence felt inside the CYG campus.

Sculptures representing Indian games are a favourite hangout for a number of foreign athletes

Indian games might not have found place in the nine games at the Commonwealth Youth Games, but that does not mean that they have not made their presence felt inside the CYG campus. In fact most of the athletes after the hectic schedules find time to relax at the squares that are decorated using the sculptures designed to represent over six Indian games.

Immediately after one enters the sports city, a giant globe held in a massive hand being showered continuously by a picturesque fountain attracts the attention of the visitors. This is the Garden Of Youth. With flags of 71 countries circling the globe and the CYG baton on top, this beautiful creation symbolises the spirit of CYG. Explaining the logic behind the structure, Gaurish Chandawarkar, landscape architect, SGC design group responsible for designing the landscapes at CYG says, 8220;We have formulated the youth garden in such a manner that there is a spiral way that leads one to the fountain. This spiral way represents the fluidity and dynamism that youth carries. The hand in the centre is India with symbols of all the nine games carved on it. We have planted Champa trees in such a manner that while going inside, one sees white flowers and while returning- red.8221;

Ahead of the Garden Of Youth as one takes a left, a giant rising sun represents the ball in the traditional Indian game 8211; Lagori. While most of the athletes find this as a relaxing place to sit and chat after the tiring day, what satisfies their curious looks is a board that gives information about Lagori as a game and the places where it is played in India.

Almost all the athletes have to visit the warm-up grounds before the actual competition and what has become a funny habit amongst the sportsmen is to climb up huge spinning top by the side of the tracks and watch their team mates practice. According to Vishwas Kanekar, head, Space Constructive creations, who have conceptualised the idea of putting sculptures of Indian sports for beautification, 8220;We have made this spinning top from the waste metal material from the CYG venue. The shaft of the spinning top has stairs and one can climb up from the shaft and come down from the slide at the other side.8221; Not many know that there are over 25 types of tops in the world and that China has the largest spinning top in the World. A lot of interesting information unveils on the information board displayed by the side of the top.

No child can ever miss this. A huge red and yellow climbing wall that resembles the snake and ladder game that makes many adults become children. Kanekar says, 8220;In fact this as well has stairs from which one can climb and enjoy the view around.8221; A concept which is still under development is the Yoga garden. With two yogic positions on two sides of a ground, this garden is designed to give peace of mind to the observer. 8220;We want the landscapes to be remembered even after the games are over so much so that it should become a tourist attraction after the games,8221; adds Kanekar.