The mascot and logo for the 2024 Khelo India Winter Games were unveiled recently. Keeping with the region’s biodiversity, a snow leopard named ‘Sheen-e She’ or Shan has been declared the official mascot. The logo integrates the Indian tricolor and symbols of Ladakh.
Hosting of the Khelo India Winter Games
The Khelo India Games are an initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote Olympic sports and cultivate grassroots sporting talent in India.
The Games will be held in two legs, the first in Ladakh from February 2–6, followed by the second leg in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, from February 21–25.
The Ladakh leg will feature ice hockey and speed skating events. The J&K leg will host ski mountaineering, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and gondola competitions.
This is the first time the annual Khelo India Winter Games are being hosted in Ladakh. Previous editions since 2020 took place only in J&K.
Highlighting local ecology
Native to the high Himalayas above 3,200m, the snow leopard highlights ecological issues facing the fragile trans-Himalayan region.
Its conservation is interlinked with protecting local habitats from climate change and human activity pressures. The mascot symbolises the environmental protection message.
Broader Goals
Hosting the Games spotlights Ladakh and J&K as emerging winter sports hubs. It can boost tourism activity and economic opportunities.
The Games also align with the larger goals of grassroots sports development and the discovery of fresh talent across winter disciplines, even in remote regions.
Future Prospects
With world-class infrastructure and conditions, India has strong potential to groom talent for the Winter Olympics.
Building winter sports exposure and culture via initiatives like the Khelo India Games lays the foundation for expanding India’s global sporting footprint beyond traditional strength areas.