Khelo India Winter Games 2024: Snow leopard mascot unveiled
The mascot and logo for the upcoming Khelo India Winter Games were officially unveiled recently. The Winter Games, a highly anticipated event for winter sports enthusiasts, will be hosted in the Union Territory of Ladakh for the first time, taking place from February 2 to 6. The second segment will held in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, from February 21 to 25.
Snow leopard Sheen-e She
The Khelo India Winter Games 2024 embraces regional diversity with the snow leopard mascot, named 'Sheen-e She' or Shan in Ladakh. The logo, adorned with the Indian Tricolor, captures the essence of the picturesque land and sports diversity. Featuring a Dharmachakra on a hill in Chanspa, Leh, the venue of the Games, the emblem symbolizes the cultural richness and commitment to excellence in sports.
About the mascot
The snow leopard, indigenous to J&K and Ladakh at altitudes above 3200 meters, is also found in other Himalayan regions and neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and China. The J&K Sports Council and Ladakh's sports department conceived the snow leopard as the mascot, shedding light on high-altitude development concerns, the fragile local environment, and emphasizing conservation to safeguard this majestic species.
Online launch
The online launch of the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 logo and mascot featured key figures, including Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Ladakh's Lt. Governor, Brigadier (Dr.) BD Mishra (Retd.), and Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. Also present was Sandip Pradhan, Director General of Sports Authority of India.
Ice hockey and speed skating
The opening ceremony of the Khelo India Winter Games will be inaugurated by Anurag Singh Thakur, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting, GoI, at NDS Stadium, Leh, on February 2. Leh will host competitions in two disciplines, namely ice hockey and speed skating, spread across three venues in the city.
The Khelo India Winter Games
The fourth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games 2024, marks Ladakh's debut as co-host with Jammu & Kashmir. The event encompasses various sports like ice hockey, speed skating, ski mountaineering, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic ski, and gandola. Aligned with the Khelo India Mission, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative aims to nurture talent for excellence in diverse Olympic sports.
