Correspondent
SHILLONG, MAY 30 (NPN): The Meghalaya government on Saturday signed the host state agreement with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the 39th National Games, scheduled to be held in the state in 2027.
The agreement was signed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on behalf of the state government and IOA president P.T. Usha in the presence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, and senior government officials.
According to officials, the revised agreement further strengthens the partnership between the State and the IOA by clearly outlining the legal, financial and operational responsibilities of both parties.
During the Games, Meghalaya will serve as the lead host state, while other northeastern states will also host selected sporting disciplines within their respective territories.
Within Meghalaya, competitions will be held across Shillong, Tura and Jowai. More than 10,000 athletes are expected to participate in the Games, which are also projected to generate over 5,400 employment opportunities in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya lauded the Meghalaya government for its preparedness and efforts in hosting the National Games.
Mandaviya highlighted the upcoming Mawkhanu Football Stadium as a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting national and international matches, adding that such infrastructure would boost tourism and create employment opportunities in the region.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to transforming Meghalaya into a major sporting hub in the country. He said the development of world-class sporting infrastructure and the hosting of national and international events would strengthen the state’s sports ecosystem and create new opportunities for the youth.
Highlighting the efforts made over the past eight years, Sangma urged young athletes to make the most of the opportunity to compete on home soil and bring laurels to the state.
During the programme, the Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Hall at the J.N. Sports Complex was also inaugurated. Built at a cost of Rs. 132.9 crore, the facility is competition-ready to host basketball and kabaddi events during the upcoming National Games.
The indoor hall will also house a high-performance Sports Science Centre offering services in biomechanics, performance analytics, sports medicine, physiotherapy, nutrition and sports psychology.
Meanwhile, several other sporting infrastructures, including the Umsawli Sports Complex, the P.A. Sangma Sports Complex in Tura, and the Mawkhanu Football Stadium — touted as the largest football stadium in the Northeast — are currently under construction.