The contingent's representatives of the eight North East states taking the oath during the opening ceremony of the 3rd North East Games 2024, at the Games Village, Sovima on March 18. (Morung Photo)
North East Games 2024 kicks off in Nagaland
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | March 18
The 3rd North East (NE) Games 2024 was declared officially open, this evening, by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, at the Games Village, Sovima.
While welcoming dignitaries and athletes from across the region, Rio, who also heads the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), termed the NE Games a showcase of sportsmanship and camaraderie with a vision to inspire unity among the North-eastern states.
He said that the northeast, in addition to picturesque landscapes and mineral resources has great potential in its human resource. Despite the known strengths, he said that the region faced numerous challenges, particularly in terms of connectivity. At present, he added the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is putting in enormous effort in developing the region's infrastructure and addressing connectivity issues.
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According to him, an event with over 3000 people participating was not a matter of joke. While the Northeast region and its states may be small in terms of numbers and area, Rio said that percentage wise, the states were at the top.
The Northeast states holds only 3.1 percent of the population of India but 6.72 percent of total athletes represented India at the 2016 Olympic, while in the FIFA under-17 World Cup, 11 of the 21 players were from the Northeast. He said that these stands testimony to the region’s potential and expressed hope that the states of the region will continue to help one another in leading the northeast to becoming the country’s sports powerhouse.
“Nobody can stop the North East to move forward and also to become the contributor in the nation, especially in the field of sports,” he added. Reiterating that sports bring people together, Rio hoped that all the participants will have a wonderful Nagaland experience, and that the experience will propel the region to greater heights.
Abu Metha, Secretary General of the Nagaland Olympic Association hailed the event as by far the “biggest and largest meet and gathering of one people.” It exemplifies the vibrancy and the ambition of one people from the region, he added.
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More than 1400 medals will be given away in 15 disciplines which will be held in 12 venues in Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Kohima.
He claimed that sports have been a way of life for the people of the region since time immemorial. “Our Meitei brothers rode on horseback across Southeast Asia and South Asia, people from Meghalaya practised archery from the time of their foreparents. In Nagaland and in Mizoram, we wrestled at every event.”
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Today, he said that the North-eastern region is acknowledged as the ‘sportsbank of the country. While sportspersons from across the region have consistently done India proud, he expressed confidence that the young athletes will make India proud at international arenas across the world.
“We have differences but sport brings us together,” he continued while calling upon the athletes to bring the people under one umbrella.
He held that each athlete and sportsperson is an ambassador of unity and a warrior for justice. Metha looked forward to all the participants having a memorable time and making the third NE Games a success. Competitive events will begin on March 19 till March 23.
