SHILLONG, April 14: The state government will reply to the letter of the Indian Olympic Association (IOC) on the hosting of the 2022 National Games after the meeting of the National Games Organising Committee (NGOA).
“We will soon have the meeting of the NGOA that will be chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. We will reply to the IOA on the steps which are being taken to host the National Games after the meeting,” Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh, informed on Wednesday.
It may be recalled that in a letter addressed to the National Games Secretariat (NGA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on March 16 last, IOA president, Narinder Dhruv Batra, and secretary general, Rajiv Mehta, had acknowledged the government efforts for proactively working towards holding the National Games.
“… It is advised to put this big initiative in the motion by convening a meeting of the NGA with all stakeholders to decide on the dates for National Games and inform us accordingly,” the duo had stated in the letter.
Banteidor further informed that he recently held a review meeting with the members of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association and senior officials of the department. “We have already lost more than one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, we have gone ahead with the construction of the sport infrastructure as part preparations for hosting of the National Games,” he said.
The Sports and Youth Affairs minister further informed that the construction of the PA Sangma Integrated Stadium has already been initiated.
He also informed that his department has already invited tenders for renovation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Polo, at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore.
“We will soon be calling tenders for construction of the indoor stadium near JN Sports Complex,” he informed.
Meanwhile, Banteidor said that besides the construction of the infrastructures, the preparation of the team for the various events is also very critical. “Even Goa, till now, has not been able to host the National Games. The timeline is extremely tight. I will not be able to say if we will be able to host the mega sports event next year,” the minister added.
