SHILLONG: Come February 5, the city will be absorbed in hosting the biggest sporting extravaganza in its history, the 12th South Asian Games. At a time when top officials, administrators, security agencies, police personnel among others will be busy ensuring that the Games run smoothly, a heavy responsibility will lie on the hundreds of youngsters called Games volunteers who have been roped in to make the multinational sports event a rousing success in Shillong.
A total of 750 volunteers have been roped in for the South Asian Games. The youngsters, who would virtually be the face of the Games, will be present at every stretch of the respective venues, directing and guiding the spectators among others. The volunteers began their training for the Games last month.
From the beginning of their training they were made aware told that their role would be crucial, with South Asian Games CEO (Shillong) RK Sharma telling them that they are the “face of the Games”.
This is a big occasion for the volunteers, many of them college students, who are tasked with a number of different responsibilities, from accommodation, transport, venue operations to media. They will be interacting with players and team officials from all countries and how they handle themselves on the international stage will be of prime importance.
Two such volunteers are Clarable Dohling and Bankitbok Myrthong, who have been stationed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Sports Hall in Polo, which will play host to table tennis and judo.
Clarable is what is known as a ‘Sports Specific Volunteer’ and the 25-year-old has been assigned to the judo event where she will have her hands full with medical, technical and award ceremony requirements.
“These are important responsibilities and I am very excited to play my part,” Clarable, who is a casual employee with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, said. Bankitbok, a 19-year-old student at Synod College, meanwhile, is on the operations team, who are the go-to people when it comes to lighting, sound, maintenance and ensuring clean surroundings.
“We have to look out for the spectators and the venue and if there is any problem we have to bring it to our supervisor. We also have to cooperate fully if a player or coach has an issue. It’s very nice to take part in the Games, but there is also a little bit of pressure,” he said.
