The second edition of the North East Olympic Games, which Shillong will host, will feature 18 separate disciplines, it was revealed today.
The Games will begin on October 30 and conclude on November 6.
The 18 disciplines are archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, football, judo, karate, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, wushu, cycling, golf, weightlifting and wrestling. Apart from wrestling, all the disciplines were conducted at this year’s 4th Meghalaya Games.
A joint meeting between the North East Organising Committee, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) and the North East Olympic Association (NEOA) was held here today to finalise the disciplines.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, who chaired the meeting, stated that the sports selected were decided based on the availability of infrastructure and on the advice of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association.
Also present were NEOA and Manipur Olympic Association president Th Radheshyam MLA, NEOA secretary general Abraham K Techi, Meghalaya State Olympic Association working president John F Kharshiing, MSOA general secretary Finely L Pariat and other officials.
Representatives from the Olympic associations of all eight states attended (those of Sikkim and Tripura through video conference).
The DSYA stated that the venues and accommodation for the athletes and officials are being prepared in a war footing for the mega event in consultation and coordination with the MSOA. State government departments have also been assigned different tasks for the smooth and successful conduct of the Games.
Lyngdoh also said that, on a recent trip to Gujarat, he had invited Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur to attend the opening of the NE Olympics. The Chief Ministers of all eight states and other dignitaries will also be invited.
The meeting also accepted the proposal by Techi to invite a few of the top athletes from the North East who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics and the recent Commonwealth Games as special invitees to the opening ceremony.
Radheshyam said that this edition is an important sporting event as it is part of the celebration of Meghalaya’s golden jubilee. The Games will also benefit the youth of the North East and promote unity and understanding among the youths, he added.
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