CM Trophy 2024 begins with a grand opening ceremony; the games budget has climbed to 82 crore.

INN/Chennai, @Infodeaofficial

The 2024 CM Trophy Games got off to a spectacular start at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with a beautiful opening ceremony that was attended by Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin. The games not only celebrate the spirit of sports but also give future routes for future champions.

The 2024 CM Trophy is envisioned as a platform to get everyone on the playing field, from young children to elderly citizens. Over 33,000 participants from 38 districts will compete over the course of the next 20 days in 36 sports disciplines across five categories: school, college students, public, government employees, and people with disabilities.

After lighting the ceremonial Games Torch, which was given to him by 2024 Paris Paralympic silver medallist Thulasimathi Murugesan and triple jumper Praveen Chitravel, whose training and other needs are funded through the Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation, the Hon. Deputy Chief Minister declared the Games open.

Honourable Law Minister Thiru S Raghupathy, Honourable Minister for Cooperation Thiru KR Periakaruppan, Mayor of Chennai Corporation Mrs. R Priya, Member of Parliament for Chennai Central, Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, as well as key government and SDAT officials were present at the inaugural event.

The Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister addressed the players and spectators, stating, “We are dedicated to making the Chief Minister Trophy a great success as it is the premier event of this government.” The budget for the tournament was increased to Rs 82 crore, according to the first file I signed as the Deputy Chief Minister.”

Tamil Nadu has long been one of the top sporting destinations in the Indian subcontinent, and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu’s grassroots initiatives have made sure that many of the state’s athletes are competing at the national and international levels, according to Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development.

“I am proud to announce that four out of the six athletes from Tamil Nadu with disabilities who competed in the 2024 Paris Paralympics returned with medals. That reassures us that we are headed in the right direction,” he continued. The vibrant opening ceremony enthralled athletes and fans alike, and it was a great celebration of Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural legacy and contemporary technology. Olympian Praveen Chitravel was one of them, and he had nothing but appreciation for the way the CM Trophy Games are being run.

“The CM Trophy is held on par with worldwide competitions, and the state will undoubtedly produce many more champions thanks to the efforts of SDAT and this government in promoting sports and aiding athletes.

“From a secluded corner of my Chettichatram hamlet in Thiruvarur district to a career as an Olympian, SDAT shaped my life. SDAT was the driving force behind my accomplishment since I was committed to achieving my goal and ideal. I visited with the minister of sports after the Olympics in Paris and told him that my hamlet needed a running track, and the government quickly provided a location for it,” he continued.

Top athletes will have the opportunity to apply for higher education under the sports quota, and SDAT will award a total cash reward of Rs 37 crore this year. A musical medley reflecting the contribution of the CM Trophy to the growth of sports in the state was presented after a mime piece by Global Connect that depicted the life and journey of a sportsperson.