Imkong Walling
The Government of Nagaland, the Nagaland Olympic Association, the Chief Minister and the clique must be grinning from ear to ear in the aftermath of what can be inferred to be a well-managed North East Games 2024. The government folks and the event managers clearly left no stone unturned to put on a good show in the state’s maiden venture to host a fairly challenging regional level, multidisciplinary Olympic-style sporting event in a state not known for sports infrastructure.
From spruced playfields spread over three districts (Dimapur, Kohima Chümoukedima) to neat accommodation, it was a purportedly smoothly organised affair. The organisers even slotted in an entertainment programme for the players every evening at the Games Village in Sovima.
With the exception of the piped but untreated water provided at the Games Village, the food served was said to be good quality fare, if not 5-Star, while the standard of the living quarters, and the portaloos, in terms of comfort, was claimed to be above average. Per informal sources, the government reportedly forked out some Rs 30 crore for the Games Village.
Some however differed on the comfort level of the dorm-style sleeping quarters stating it was a bit too crammed for 25-30 people.
Nevertheless, from players to the team managers, apparently everyone, particularly the out-of-state contingents, was fairly impressed by the facilities put up. The kudos even went out to the community volunteers, who helped out at the Games venues.
The display of great even-management skills was not unexpected as the state government is known for stitching together fairly praiseworthy public spectacles like it has done with the Hornbill Festival for years, and who can forget the round-the-clock effort put into ‘temporarily’ face-painting the Unity Gate on NH 29 in Chümoukedima, just in time for the G20 Business Summit in Kohima in April 2023.
The athletes also did justice, hauling in a total of 48 gold and 134 medals in total, to finish second, out of 8 states, in the medal table.
The entire packaging could well be termed a useful PR exercise for a first-timer, boding well for catching attention of backers for hosting events of higher scales. That, however, is the face-value part.
Behind the façade of putting on a good display, the state government’s tendency to sweep under real and pressing concerns, facing the sports sector, cannot be overlooked. Behind the pomp and show of glitzy opening and closing galas studded with patronising and no less preachy speeches, neglect is evident in non-existent sports development roadmap, in addition to the all too evident deficiency of physical infrastructure.
The neglect is evident in grassroots, and even state level, events being handed second-rate treatment. The Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic Games was one such victim, handed the proverbial step-motherly treatment with drastically reduced budget which translated into logistical difficulties and poor accommodation for the athletes. It is evident in football where consistent success at the Subroto Cup over the decades has yet to reflect at the senior level.
Investing in sports with potential is the ideal, but the government seems inclined more towards investing in sports that, in most cases, only the well-off can afford. Motorsports getting precedence at the sprawling 21-something acre Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence in Sovima over other sports that have consistently brought medals is an example; while priority accorded to hosting multi-state events over grooming talent being another.
The writer is a Principal Correspondent at The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to imkongwalls@gmail.com
