Meghalaya to bid for 2022 National Games

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that Allotment of National Games is done by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from the bids submitted by the States to IOA. Government of Meghalaya has informed that it proposes to bid for National Games in 2022.

He said, realizing the potential of talented sportspersons available in North-Eastern Region of the country, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is already providing support for creation and development of sports infrastructure in North East States. Under the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), the Ministry has approved grant of Rs.87.50 crore for 15 sports infrastructure projects such as multi-purpose halls, astro-turfs for hockey, synthetic athletic tracks, during the period from 2010-11 to 2015-16 (upto 31.12.2015) and released grant to the tune of Rs.53.25 crore during this period in the N.E. region.

Further, financial assistance from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) has also been provided for sports infrastructure projects viz., Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation for Construction of Gymnasium Hall and Procurement/ Installation of GYM Equipment (Rs.5.54 crore) and Dibrugarh University for Creation of Sports facilities in 10 affiliated colleges (Rs.2.23 crore).

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today the Minister said, Sports Authority of India (SAI) has 5 SAI Training Centres (STCs), 8 Special Area Games (SAG) Centres and 2 Centres of Excellence (CoE) in North Eastern Region, wherein sports infrastructure in the form of athletic tracks, hockey turfs, tennis courts, football grounds, multi-purpose halls, basketball courts etc. is available.