SHILLONG/GUWAHATI: The Chef de Missions of various countries participating in the 12th South Asian Games will arrive in the city on Tuesday to take stock of the preparations for the upcoming games.
As per Sports Secretary, FR Kharkongor, the expected time of their arrival is around 1:30 PM following which a meeting would be held in Pine Wood Hotel at around 3:30 PM to discuss various issues related to the games.
The visiting dignitaries will go around venues in Shillong on Wednesday and will be briefed about the ongoing preparations.
Countries participating in the SAG include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts India.
A total of around 3600 athletes will take part in 23 different disciplines during the 12th SAG to be held in Shillong and Guwahati.
In addition, around 4000 officials from seven foreign participating nations will also come for the event.
The games organisers have arranged for over 1800 hotel rooms in Guwahati and Shillong for accommodation of participants in the Games as there will be no games village.
Meanwhile, additional 60 companies of central paramilitary forces will be deployed for holding of the Games across 17 venues in Guwahati and Shillong.
50 additional companies of central forces will be deployed in Guwahati and 5 additional companies in Shillong during the Games period to look after security and smooth conduct of the event.
Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Sarbananda Sonowal informed that a retired Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) would be appointed as the ethical adviser to see that it would be a smooth sailing and also that the money allocated for the games is utilised properly.
He informed that total 3500 volunteers from different education institutions had been trained for deployment during the games that will be held in total 17 venues in Guwahati and Shillong. About 2600 volunteers will be deployed in Guwahati venues while about 750 will be deployed in sports venues in Shillong.
The sporting event will be held with an overall budget of Rs 165 crore excluding security related expenditures. Total Rs 59 crore will be spent for arrangement of proper security for participants, officials and venues in Guwahati while Rs 8 crore will be spent for security arrangement in Shillong.
“The South Asian Games which is being held in Northeast for the first time , would be capitalized to showcase the rich culture, ethnicity, tourism potential of the region so that it opens new vistas for economic development of the region,” Sonowal said.
