While political parties are concentrating on posting 'memes' in the social media to attack their rivals, 'Vote for Ooty', a coalition of locals here, in yet another public notice says, "Ooty is in a critical condition. The coming assembly election provides a timely opportunity to save Ooty as the hill town now desperately needs a political voice.
"As there is no single voice powerful or influential enough to do that, Ooty needs to present a collective voice loud enough to be heard by the decision makers in the state and the centre."
Earlier, 'Vote for Ooty' had spoken about bad roads and the poor transportation facilities in the hill district. Now the group has taken up the the issue of negligible sporting activities in the district.
Pointing out that sporting activities have steadily declined in the past two decades for lack of promotion, modern sports facilities and sponsors for sports events in the district, Dharmalingam Venugopal, coordinator, 'Vote for Ooty' said, "Nilgiris had produced legendary football and hockey players in 1950s and 60s. The district was chosen as the acclimatization centre for the Indian contingent for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Several national level championships had been held in Ooty since then."
Stating that a proposal has now been made to set up a high altitude sports facility centre in the Nilgiris, he stressed that this ought to be done in a manner that would combine revival of local interest in sports and promotion of sports tourism in the district.
The release also suggests that the race course which occupies more than 5 acres of prime land in the heart of the Ooty town would be the ideal choice for such a facility inside Ooty.
Ooty race course has always been a multi-sports complex.
"As there is no single voice powerful or influential enough to do that, Ooty needs to present a collective voice loud enough to be heard by the decision makers in the state and the centre."
Earlier, 'Vote for Ooty' had spoken about bad roads and the poor transportation facilities in the hill district. Now the group has taken up the the issue of negligible sporting activities in the district.
Pointing out that sporting activities have steadily declined in the past two decades for lack of promotion, modern sports facilities and sponsors for sports events in the district, Dharmalingam Venugopal, coordinator, 'Vote for Ooty' said, "Nilgiris had produced legendary football and hockey players in 1950s and 60s. The district was chosen as the acclimatization centre for the Indian contingent for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Several national level championships had been held in Ooty since then."
Stating that a proposal has now been made to set up a high altitude sports facility centre in the Nilgiris, he stressed that this ought to be done in a manner that would combine revival of local interest in sports and promotion of sports tourism in the district.
The release also suggests that the race course which occupies more than 5 acres of prime land in the heart of the Ooty town would be the ideal choice for such a facility inside Ooty.
Ooty race course has always been a multi-sports complex.