High altitude sports training center yet to become a reality

Construction of high altitude sports training centers in Mustang and Baglung remain stalled, many years since they were announced. The two big sports infrastructures projects were put forward by the federal and provincial governments.

The Gandaki provincial government had announced the establishment of a training center in Waragung Muktichettra Rural Municipality of Mustang in the financial year 2075-76. In the same year, the government had allocated a budget of Rs 10 million for the technical study and detailed project report of the project.

Head of the Youth and Sports Division of the Ministry of Social Development and Health of the province, Ghanshyam Poudel, however said that the delay in land acquisition has slowed down the project. "Only after the land is managed, the infrastructure construction work will proceed,"he said.

Meanwhile, Hari Bhujel, Head of Land Revenue Office Mustang, said the land has been ascertained and the survey just been completed and will take some time to complete the land acquisition process.

Chairperson of Waragung Muktichettra Rural Municipality, Ringjing Namgel Gurung, expressed the hope that the province government will proceed with the project now that the process of land acquisition has started.

Similarly, the plan to build a high altitude sports training center at Dhorpatan in Baglung remains incomplete for years. The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council under the federal government had carried out a feasibility study for the project in 2075 BS.

Former president of District Sports Development Committee, Baglung, Dhan Bahadur Pariyar, said that laws related to forest and wildlife have become a hindrance in acquiring the right of ownership of the land required for the project. The land sought for the sports training center falls within the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.

Head of Western Regional Sports Development Committee, Lakshman Prasad Yogi, said Dhorpatan is a suitable and promising place for a high altitude sports venue and the country can gain economic benefits by combining sports and tourism.

According to sports experts high altitude training center for sports practice can help sportsperson to excel in their respective field of sport. Athletes who practice in high altitude with less oxygen can perform better in places with more oxygen.

Sports experts also say that a high altitude sports training center can be built at an altitude of 2,500 to 4,000 meters in Nepal. In the policy and program of the financial year 2077-78, the federal government had also announced the establishment of a high altitude sports training center, which is yet to come into place.