Athletes shocked at state of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium track after Diljit Dosanjh Dil-luminati 2024 concert
New Delhi: Diljit Dosanjh launched his highly anticipated Dil-Luminati India Tour in New Delhi, hosting two back-to-back shows on Saturday and Sunday. The singer captivated an audience of around 40,000 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, delivering a two-hour performance across both days.
India’s athletes were left questioning their importance as New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium— the country’s premier track and field venue—was left in chaos just a day after the two-day Diljit Dosanjh concert, Dil-Luminati.
The two-day Dil-Luminati Tour concert at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has sparked outrage among athletes and sports teams. India’s premier track and field venue was left in a state of disarray, covered in debris and garbage following the shows. Viral photos on social media have revealed broken athletics equipment carelessly discarded, causing athletes to lose valuable training days.
Hundreds of athletes from the National Capital Region, including numerous international medallists, regularly train at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. However, due to the recent concert, they have been barred from accessing the facility.
Sources indicate that concert organizers have reserved the venue until November 1, by which time all debris and trash are expected to be cleared. Publicly available information reveals that organizers of non-sporting events can rent the JLN Stadium for ₹4,50,000 per day.
As the main stadium remains off-limits, athletes are forced to train on the adjacent practice pitch at the JLN stadium. However, this area is overcrowded, leaving little room for individual athletes to train effectively. Additionally, with football players sharing the same space, athletes must navigate around flying balls while attempting to practice their runs.
In the evening, a clean-up crew arrived on-site but employed hard-bristled brooms to sweep the ground, risking further damage to the delicate synthetic running track. Additionally, cycle rickshaws loaded with heavy materials trundled across the athletic track, compounding the concerns about the venue’s condition.
Indeed, the few athletes who arrived at the ground could only watch helplessly as their training opportunities were compromised.