The iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) in Delhi was left in a state of disarray following Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s concert, held over the weekend. On Monday, athletes and coaches arriving at the stadium were shocked to find beer bottles, plastic waste, and food wrappers scattered across the athletics track and spectator stands, remnants of the two-day musical event attended by over 70,000 fans as part of Dosanjh’s “Dil-Luminati” tour.
The aftermath of the concert has had an immediate impact on the athletes, especially those training for the Junior National Championships, who now must rely on an older, worn-out warm-up track outside the main arena. Many expressed concern over the risk of injury due to the deteriorated surface, with damaged equipment adding to the difficulties.
Athletes React to Stadium Condition
Sprinter Ajit, preparing for the upcoming Junior Nationals in Odisha, was disheartened by the sight, saying, “It was such a bad sight. We worship this place and see what they have done?” Youth Asia 800m champion Beant Singh echoed his frustration, pointing to the sacred status the stadium holds for athletes: “We enter the stadium after taking a bow. This is the respect we have. We take care and clear debris. It is not meant to hold a party. How can elite athletes train here?”
Another sprinter, Rahul Raj Mahato, added, “You can see the base [of the track]. There is a chance of injury. They damaged our hurdles. Who will pay?”
The concert’s disruption has further intensified criticism of the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) policies, which lease out JLN Stadium for commercial events under a Public-Private Partnership model to generate revenue. An SAI representative confirmed the venue would be cleaned and restored by October 29, in line with contractual obligations that specify it should be returned in the same condition as handed over.
A Declining Sports Facility
JLN Stadium, which has hosted major events such as the 1982 Asian Games and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, has recently lost its Class 1 status from World Athletics. SAI had not re-laid the synthetic track in compliance with international standards, and the venue developed depressions over time. Minor repairs were recently carried out, allowing the stadium to reopen for training. However, with SAI also de-notifying it as a National Centre of Excellence, athletes and coaches feel sidelined.
Despite SAI’s assertion that no elite training camps were being held, several coaches disagree, pointing out that athletes from across Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Bihar regularly train at JLN. “It’s a lifeline for so many elite, budding, and para-athletes,” one coach said, emphasizing that local athletes often stay in rented accommodations nearby to train at the stadium.
Concerns About Commercialization
Critics argue that the frequency of non-sporting events at JLN, from private gatherings to concerts, has disrupted its original purpose as a sports training facility. An official noted, “You look at the SAI website, the stadium is always booked for private events. It is being only used for commercial purposes and not for sports. Even the warm-up area is sometimes given out to private bodies for events.”
While the revenue generated from such events may support stadium upkeep, athletes worry about its impact on their preparations for national and international competitions. With the All India Police Championships scheduled next month, the disruption has only heightened concerns among coaches and athletes who rely on JLN as a premier training ground.
As Delhi’s athletes wait for the promised cleanup, they hope this incident will prompt more balanced policies on the use of national sports facilities, preserving spaces like JLN for the athletes who rely on them for their training and development.
Sources By Agencies