Gangtok: The Sports Ministry has launched Himalayan Region Sports Festival for the region covering the North Eastern states of the country besides Nepal and Bhutan. The idea was first mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to a joint session of the Bhutanese Parliament in June earlier this year.
The idea has been followed up in earnest since the announcement, and the event is taking concrete shape now.
“The inaugural festival will be held either in Guwahati or Imphal in February 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the festival which is proposed to be held in rotation in all the 11 states and the two foreign countries,” said Thupden Rapgyal, Deputy Director, Sports and Youth Affairs department, Government of Sikkim.
“The competitions will be held in the disciplines of Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Football, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, while few disciplines like Volleyball and Table Tennis are under consideration,” Rapgyal informed.
Every state and country will have to present at least two demonstrations/ exhibitions of indigenous games and martial arts along with competitive participation.
The main aim for launching such schemes is to maintain goodwill among the Himalayan states and neighbouring countries along the Himalayan belt as well as to have a competitive environment.
It’s a week-long event which will be organized in a long term development programme for Target Olympics Podium [TOP] under the Sports Ministry. (PTI)