Jammu Kashmir Tourism Department to host winter sports carnival

According to a PTI report, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department is going to host a winter sports carnival in Gulmarg next month. The event will continue for a week and will include international skiing championships in Gulmarg from March 1, 2009 and national snow rafting from March 6, 2009. Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Jammu and Kashmir, also informed that these events are being sponsored by the Essar Group. He further mentioned that this winter sports carnival will be inaugurated by Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir. Participants at the carnival will include skiers from countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. On the other hand, athletes from as many as 13 states from across the country will be joining in the rafting event.