SHILLONG, April 18: Against all odds, preparation for hosting the National Games 2022 is gradually progressing, and while it is uncertain whether the state will host the games or not as per the schedule, a meeting of the National Game Organising Committee (NGOC) is slated for the coming week to deliberate on the matter.
Informing that the state government is planning to hold the NGOC meeting this coming week, Sports Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh said, “Right now I don’t want to comment. Let us sit and discuss, especially in the National Game Organising Committee headed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. It is the best platform to discuss”.
Recalling that they have had the core committee meeting and discussed the issue, the sports minister said, “We have lost one and a half year and it is really tough but inspite of that we are not sitting (on the issue), my officers are working on it and the infrastructure work is also going on”.“In Tura, the work has already started, and the JN Complex, we are already tendering for upgradation and renovation. Within this month, another tender for the indoor stadium which is the main stadium of the National Games will be tendered,” he added.
The minister informed, “The infrastructure-related work we are doing, and we hope it will be completed in time but the preparation is very difficult. Due to COVID, coaching call for programmes seminars cannot be done and especially now that it is increasing, gathering has to be 50 per cent of the capacity. It is very tough as a government. I think we have to work on it and see what we can do to host the National Games”.
Pointing out that before Meghalaya, states including Goa, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand are to host the games, Banteidor said, “These states have not organised the event till now and I do not know whether we can jump that or not and that is why we will have to discuss with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) regarding this as well”.
Informing that the department is regularly communicating with the IOA, he said that everything will be taken up in the NGOC meeting.