SAF Games: Organisers allay sportspersons’ accommodation fear
SHILLONG: There is a fear that accommodation problem may crop up during the upcoming South Asian Games scheduled to be held in Shillong.
After the capital city crossed the hurdle over hosting of badminton, there are concerns over the accommodation to be provided to the contingent over 800 sportspersons from eight countries who will take part in the Games.
In addition, there will be Indian delegates descending Meghalaya.
Sources said that Meghalaya does not have a single five-star hotel and the world class competitors prefer minimum three-star accommodation.
No question is will Meghalaya be able to play good host of an international event of the magnitude of SAF Games without having proper accommodation arrangement for the participants? And the time left in hand is not adequate to develop infrastructure for the same.
The Games were awarded to Assam and Meghalaya in the IOA’s December 19, 2014 meeting after which a delegation of IOA officebearers visited the two cities in February and expressed satisfaction over the infrastructure.
While the construction of Crowborough hotel which could have accommodated many players during international events is in limbo, the construction work of the five -star hotel which is coming up at Jail Road is going at a snail’s pace.
A hotelier said that the entire Shillong hotels will be having less than 800 rooms put together.
The Centre wanted proper accommodation to be provided to the contingents even as those who conduct the Games in the state are in a denial mode as far as accommodation is concerned.
When contacted, the Chief Executive Officer of the 12th South Asian Games RK Sharma has asserted that there is no shortage of accommodations in Shillong for the upcoming games scheduled to be held from February 6 -16 in Shillong and Guwahati
“I don’t know from where these rumours are coming up and there is no truth to it,” he said.
According to Sharma, approximately, around 770 athletes and accompanying officials besides 250 Indian technical officials will be in the state during the games.
He pointed out that the athletes and officials will be put up in different 2-3 star hotels in the city and the rooms have already been booked besides budget and even food menu has been tied up.
“We are clear on what we are doing with absolute clarity,” he said.
He also said that usually games village is set up when such international events are held but since games village is not available in Shillong and Guwahati, the athletes and officials will be provided accommodation in hotels only.
