Confident of hosting 2022 Games: Mukul

SHILLONG, MAR 23:  Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today exuded confidence that the state will be able to host the National Games proposed to be held in 2022.

“Learning from the past, we are confident, as a government, that five years is good enough time (for preparation),” Sangma told the Assembly.

The chief minister also congratulated the sports department and the Meghalaya State Olympics Association for being successful in the bidding process.

Opposition members had questioned the preparedness of the state to host such a mega event especially in putting all necessary infrastructures and other logistics within a span of five years.

Sangma, however, said that the decision was taken by the state government after taking all pros and cons into consideration.

“The main issue is the resources and we have looked at how to aggregate our resources in a manner that will enable us to create all the infrastructures and also take care of the requirements of accommodation,” he said.

Earlier in his reply, Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma informed that the allotment of National Games to be held in 2022 in Meghalaya has been announced by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at the Annual General Meeting held on December 27 last year.

However, he said that the official communication is expected during this month as conveyed by the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA).

Out of the total bid amount, Rs 50 lakh has been already submitted to the IOA and the remaining Rs 4.50 crore will be cleared after signing of the agreement, he added.

He said a contractual agreement will be signed between the IOA, MSOA and the Government to enable the state to make preparation for hosting the games.

He informed that the state is proposing around 30 disciplines (both Olympics and non-Olympics) which include archery, basketball, boxing, cycling, golf, gymnastic among others but these are yet to be finalized.

Also estimating that around 13,000 participants are expected to participate in the National Games, Zenith said that the Games villages proposed will be planned in such a way that the infrastructure can be used for other needs as well.