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Delhi FC, the defending champions of the I-League, will be a part of the inaugural edition of the Climate Cup, which will be held at India’s highest football stadium in Leh, Ladakh, from September 1 to 7. The Climate Cup 2023 will feature four teams: 1 Ladakh FC, Ladakh State Team, Tibetan FA, and Delhi FC.
The tournament will be held at the Open Stadium in Spituk, Leh, which is located at an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level and can accommodate 30,000 spectators. The stadium, which was built under the Khelo India program, is one of the highest football stadiums in the world. The stadium has artificial grass, or astroturf, and not natural grass, which is designed to withstand extreme weather.
Delhi FC, who won their first I-league title in the 2022-23 season, are likely to be the first I-League team to play in Ladakh. Formed in 2023, 1Ladakh FC is the first professional club from the region and competes in the state league and also in the national youth leagues.
Last year, on January 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a special mention of ultramodern sports infrastructure in Leh in his Mann Ki Baat. The stadium is aiming to be completely eco-friendly as said by the General Secretary of the Ladakh Football Association, Tsering Angmo.
“According to the rules, all players will carry water in their own customized aluminum water bottles, while players are voluntarily bound by their service agreements in measures such as rivulets and community awareness programs across the union territory of Ladakh”, he said.
To support the tournament’s goal of raising awareness about climate change, the 2023 Climate Cup will adopt a zero-polythene and low-waste policy. With teams from Ladakh and other national clubs, the competition aims to be the first football event in India with zero polythene, zero clothing, and minimal waste logistical requirements.
