Jaipur, Aug 24 (IANS): The Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympic Games, being organised for the first time in Rajasthan, has drawn an overwhelming response with around 30 lakh players from the state rigorously practising for the event after registering for it.

According to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the event is aimed at discovering and honing the talents of rural areas and promoting sports in the state.

Around two lakh teams have been formed for the event, he added.

In Chittorgarh district, as many as 5,046 teams from 1,766 villages of 299 gram panchayats are scheduled to participate in the games. More than 65,000 have registered to participate in these games. Over 26,000 people in the district have registered for playing Kabaddi while over 16,000 have registered to play tennis ball cricket, around 11000 in kho-kho, over 6000 for volleyball, around 2000 for hockey and over 1000 each in shooting and volleyball. Rehearsal matches for the Rural Olympics have started in all the Gram Panchayats.

District Collector Arvind Kumar Poswal said Rural Olympic Games will help bring out hidden talents. He has announced a reward of Rs 21,000 to Rs 5,100 for the Sarpanch, Panchayat and Panchayat Elementary Education Officer (PEEO) who have performed best in organising these games and other arrangements.

Further, in Barmer district, a total of 97,000 players from 7,300 teams will participate in this sports festival.

As per District Collector Lok Bandhu, the formation of teams related to rural Olympic Games, marking of grounds, purchase of sports material and practice sessions of the teams have started. Cultural programmes will also form a part of the event.

Committees have been formed at the gram panchayat and block level for the successful conduct of the games. Gram Panchayat level competitions will be held from 29 August to 1 September, he said, adding that the winning teams at the gram panchayat level will participate in the competitions organised at the block level from September 12. After this, district level sports competitions will be held from September 22.

Meanwhile, over 50,000 players have got themselves registered for the games in Bharatpur district. Apart from creating an environment of sports in the society through these games, work will also be done to increase social harmony, brotherhood and harmony. Along with this, talented players of the district will also get a chance to showcase their talent at the state and national level, said Additional District Collector Suresh Kumar Yadav.

A total of 3063 teams will participate in Jodhpur district.

There is great enthusiasm about the games in Jodhpur district too. Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad Abhishek Surana informed that more than 3,063 teams of Jodhpur district will participate in these games.

About 60,000 people have registered themselves in Dausa district. Additional District Collector Ramkhiladi Meena said that practices are on in all the Gram Panchayats of the district.