Sports Authority of India steps in after 'Dil-Luminati' fiasco at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium: Venue cleaned after outrage

Hours after the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was left in poor condition following singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh's two-day concert, its owner, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), said the iconic venue has been cleaned and is ready. To host its next sporting event on 31 October. The massive littering at the end of Dosanjh's 'Dil-Luminati' concerts on Saturday and Sunday, which was attended by around 40,000 fans each night, has drawn sharp criticism from Delhi-based athletes who train regularly. Stadium.

This was not the first time that such an event was held at the venue, which has in the past hosted concerts by top international stars such as Bryan Adams (2004) and Ricky Martin (1998). But the after-effects of Dosanjh's program were heavily criticized by athletes.

After the criticism went viral on social media, SAI swung into action and issued a statement saying that the competition area and its surroundings have been restored.

“Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Main Arena will be in top shape to host the Indian Super League (ISL) football match between Punjab FC and Chennaiyin FC on October 31, 2024 (Thursday). The turf will be restored to playing condition ahead of Diwali The game is gone,” SAI said along with photos of the restored venue.

Earlier, Delhi middle distance runner Beant Singh had posted pictures and a video of the track and field area of ​​the stadium, which was littered with garbage, liquor containers and damaged athletics equipment.

“This is where athletes train, but here people drank, danced and had parties. Due to things like this, the stadium will remain closed for 10-10 days. Athletics equipment like hurdles are broken and here -Thrown there.” He wrote on Instagram.

“This is the state of sports, players and stadiums in India… Medals do not come in the Olympics because there is no respect and support for players in this country.” The 25-year-old Singh had won silver and bronze medals at the 2014 and 2018 National Open Championships respectively.

SAI, for its part, said its contract with the concert organizers was very clear – the stadium would be returned “in the same condition in which it was handed over to them.” “The organizers of Diljit Dosanjh's concert had booked Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium till October 28, 2024 for cleaning at full rental charges,” it said.

A Delhi coach told PTI that some athletes have written to the SAI requesting compensation as their hurdles and boxes containing starting blocks and other equipment like shot put, discus and medicine balls have been damaged.

“Each hurdle costs Rs 3000-4000 and you need 10 hurdles for a 400m hurdles, or a 100m hurdles or a 110m hurdles. These young athletes have arranged money to buy these equipment And it is not easy for them.

“The locks of the boxes containing the starting blocks and other equipment such as shot put, discus and medicine balls have been damaged and broken. Hence, some of the equipment has been damaged,” the coach said on condition of anonymity.

“So, the athletes have written to SAI for compensation and let's see what happens.” He said that the athletes have been asked not to train inside the stadium till October 31.

“They will not be able to train inside the stadium track for 10 days till October 31. We are training on the outdoor track but the condition there is not good.”

“This has disrupted the athletes' training schedules. We have national junior championships and national school competitions coming up.” This is not the first time that the JLN stadium has been left in such a dirty condition after huge crowds gathered for public functions.

“Athletes training here have expressed their disappointment in the past but nothing has changed,” said a Delhi-based track and field athlete on condition of anonymity.

Currently, the stadium is not hosting any national camp. However, it is part of SAI's 'Come and Play' scheme, which allows children and beginners to use the stadium facilities for training purposes free of charge.

The venue was built to hold the athletics competitions of the 1982 Asian Games. It was renovated for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and both the opening and closing ceremonies of that showpiece were held here.