State seeks funds for NE Olympics

SHILLONG, June 26: Meghalaya has sought funds from the Centre to host the North East Olympic Games to be held later this year.
“The state government is managing the funds on its own. We need the Centre’s support to organise this mega sports event,” Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh said addressing the national conference of ministers of Sports and Youth Affairs of the States and Union Territories recently.
The two-day conference, which began at Kevadia in Gujarat, was chaired by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur.
Lyngdoh also urged the Centre to help the state government set up a Khelo India centre of excellence in each district headquarters as all major sports infrastructures are in Shillong. He was confident the Khelo India centres in all districts will help in tapping talents even in the state’s remote areas.
Lyngdoh said funding for development of such infrastructure should be augmented for Meghalaya due to its hilly terrains.
“Rs 5 crore allotted for the setting up of Khelo India centre of excellence is not enough. The funding, sanctioned based on the DPR prepared in Delhi, does not tally with the type of work that has to be taken up,” he said.
The minister highlighted the problems as regards infrastructure across sporting disciplines. Drawing the Centre’s attention, he said it is imperative that the various youth hostels across Meghalaya are renovated.
Thakur said the states face some common issues while trying to develop sports. He said some common solutions could be found through deliberations. “I urge each one of you to actively participate in this forum and work in a unified manner to help India attain the position of being in the Top 10 sporting nations of the world,” he exhorted.