2nd Manipur Olympic Games 2022 kicks off

Manipur Governor La Ganesan along with chief minister N Biren Singh kicked off 2nd Manipur Olympic Games-2022 on Friday at a grand opening ceremony held in Imphal’s Mapal Kangjeibung.
The five-day event will last till August 30. Young sportspersons representing all the 16 districts of the state were participating in the event.
About 6000 sportspersons from across the state will compete in 34 sports disciplines including indigenous sports disciplines such as Kang, Mukna, etc. during the five days.
In his address at the opening ceremony, the Governor stated that the basic objective of games and sports was to develop good citizenship among boys and girls by forming their character – training them in the habits of observation, obedience and self-reliance and promoting their physical, mental and spiritual development in the true spirit.
Asserting that Manipur had already produced many Olympians at national and international level, he expressed his confidence that the state would keep producing many more sportspersons who will bring laurels to the country.
He said that youths of the state were born sportsmen and athletes and stated that if they were provided with infrastructural facilities, incentives and give a little more thrust to sports activities in rural areas, they will emerge as distinguished and excellent sports persons of national and international stature.
On the occasion, chief minister N Biren Singh expressed his happiness that the 2nd Manipur Olympic Games was being organized after 34 years as the 1st Manipur Olympic Games was held in 1988.
He announced that the state government after consultation with the Manipur Olympic Association had decided to organize the games every year and added that the budget for organizing the same will be allocated separately from next year. The chief minister asserted that sports represent an important place in Manipur where different communities reside together, as there is no religion or caste in sports.
He stressed the need to organize the state Olympic games in a festive mood with showcases of many cultural programmes from next year.
State power minister Thongam Biswajit, YAS minister Govindas Konthoujam, transport minister Khashim Vashum and many MLAs also attended the opening ceremony.
The governor raised the flag of Manipur Olympic Association to declare the opening of the games. Wushu Player Naorem Roshibina Devi took oath of all the participating districts.
Cultural programmes consisting of Thang-ta, choreographic representation named ‘Colour of Oneness’ and performance of theme song of 2nd Manipur Olympic Games were the main highlights of the opening ceremony.