Adventure sports draw huge crowds at tourist fair in Island Grounds

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V Ayyappan TNN

Feb 3, 2009

Chennai: Zorbing, quad-biking and rock climbing — just head to Island Grounds to get yourself an adrenaline rush. Adventure sports are the biggest draw at the India Tourist Anna Centenary Industrial Fair on till the first week of March. The sports are so popular that people in charge of the rides have been having a tough time requesting excited children and teenagers to step out and make way for others once their turn is over. Thirteen-year-old Prakash needed just one try on the trampoline to get hooked — and it took a lot of coaxing to get him out of the elastic harness he was strapped into while he bounced around. Adventure sports have been introduced courtesy Sports Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDATN) and Rohini Hotels, explained Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) managing director M Rajaram. “It’s been a hit with visitors. SDATN introduced rock climbing, and archery is organised by TTDC at its rural tourism pavilion,” he said. More than 10,000 tickets have been sold for adventure sports at the fair, says Rohini Hotels director Vinoj P Selvam. “More than 8,000 people have tried it all out. Quad-biking, a kind of dirt-biking, is the most popular, followed by trampoline and rock climbing,” he said. Zorbing is for the hardcore adventure sport enthusiast. People are strapped inside a 14-foot diameter synthetic ball and rolled over and over. The effect is guaranteed to frighten and thrill. “More than 1,000 people have tried zorbing in the last 30 days,” Selvam said. They are planning to a bungee run, bungee jumping, paint ball and archery in months ahead, which even amateurs can try. “Paint ball is a team game where participants try to avoid balls of paint shot at them from a machine. Those who manage to avoid getting hit win,” said Selvam. More than 11 lakh people have visited the fair, which has generated revenue of Rs 1.04 crore, according to a tourism department official. “There has been a 20% increase in revenue compared to last year,” he said. “The rural tourism stall is popular because people enjoy rural cuisine. There is also kili josiyam (parrot astrology), yoga and rural sports. Pani lingam, where an idol is made of ice, is also hugely popular. The fair will be on till first week of March. After that TTDC plans to have a fair for the summer holidays,” said Rajaram.