Picture Credit: X
The statement by Sports Authority of India (SAI) sparked rage after the athlete showed ground reality of the stadium. Notably, a video of an athlete has been making rounds on social media where he showed the reality of the stadium after Diljeet Dosanjh’s concert. Dosanjh, a globally famous Punjabi singer, had his concert at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for two days. After the concert, several videos have been doing rounds on social media showcasing piles of trash littered all around the venue.
However, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in a statement, claimed about the venue’s readiness. The statement read, “The organisers of Diljit Dosanjh's concert had booked the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium till October 28, 2024 (Monday) for cleaning at full rental charges. SAI's contract with the organisers clearly states that they will return the concert venue (JLN Stadium) to SAI in the same way that it was handed over to them. Around 70,000 people attended the concert over two days and the cleaning is already complete.”
IANS’ visit to the stadium reveals ground reality
After SAI’s official statement, IANS visited the ground, which showed a completely different reality. It discovered that there was still a need for a thorough cleaning and the stadium was still filled with trash. The dismantling of the makeshift structure was still going on around 3 pm. Not only this, but a sand pit for the long jump as well as the track around the ground was littered and was in need of work.
Earlier, an athlete shared a video showcasing the aftermath of the concert and lashed at organisers for the same. Former youth Asian gold medallist Beant Singh, in the video, was quoted as saying by News18, “This is the status of sports, sportspersons, and stadiums in India. Athletes practice here, but people drink alcohol and hold music events here, keeping the stadium closed for ten days at a time. The equipment and practice gear of athletes have been broken and thrown around.”
