The third edition of the Nagaland State Olympic and Paralympic Games, scheduled to begin on November 2 in Chümoukedima district, is set to be the biggest sporting event in the state so far, with more than 3,000 registered participants representing all 17 districts across 14 sports disciplines. The sporting event would conclude on November 14.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the Games, Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and Secretary General of the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), Abu Metha, said the event would bring together close to 1,000 female athletes and nearly 2,000 male athletes. Including members of the organising committee, technical officials, referees, volunteers and other accredited personnel, the total number of people involved is expected to exceed 4,000.
Metha expressed gratitude to the State Government for supporting the Games, particularly Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio for providing the vision and guidance to make another edition of the State Games possible. He also acknowledged the support of the Nagaland Police, under the leadership of Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton and Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma, as well as the Department of Youth Resources and Sports and police personnel at the Chümoukedima Police Complex.
The Games will be conducted across eight venues within the Police Complex and three other venues outside it. Athletics will be held at the synthetic track of the Sports Authority of India complex near DC Court area. Metha said this would be the first time the track was being used for a formal competition.
Sepak takraw, wrestling and table tennis will be held at the multi-discipline indoor sports complex at Sovima; lawn tennis at Kuda Village, Nagarjan; and pencak silat at the association’s facility in Dimapur. The respective state sports associations will independently oversee their disciplines under their technical guidance.
The Games have been divided into two phases to address logistical challenges and facilitate the accommodation of the large number of participants. The first phase will conclude with seven disciplines, following which the participating contingents will leave and those scheduled for the second phase will arrive.
Metha said dedicated teams and committees had been formed to manage transport, accommodation, medical services, emergencies, food and other logistical arrangements, with the organising teams working round the clock over the past several weeks.
A dedicated Games Village has also been established in Chümoukedima, with separate accommodation facilities for male and female athletes. Services will include same-day laundry facilities, 24-hour medical assistance, convenience stores and food outlets operating round the clock, besides entertainment and recreational facilities. Sports-related documentaries and motivational films will also be screened in the evenings.
In a technology-driven initiative, the entire Games management will be overseen through a software platform called ‘Fleg’ (www.fleg.in). All registrations, including those of athletes, technical officials and organising committee members, have been processed through the system. The website will provide daily updates on the medal tally, results, fixtures, athlete profiles and photographs, enabling participants, spectators and the media to follow the competitions.
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Metha clarified that the State Games would be conducted in the open category, without separate age-wise divisions for junior and senior participants.
The third edition will also incorporate the State Para Games in collaboration with the Paralympic committee and organisations working in para sports. The para-sport disciplines will be conducted under their respective guidelines at two separate venues. Football and futsal will be held at the futsal facility of the Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence, while other para-sport events will take place at the institution where the athletes are based.
Another major initiative this year will be a seminar-cum-workshop on safeguarding in sports, featuring national and international resource persons. Metha said the programme was being organised for the first time in the state and would focus on safeguarding protocols and best practices for sports administrators, coaches and others involved in the sporting ecosystem.
He stressed the need to ensure the safety and protection of children and women in sports, pointing out that coaches and sports administrators regularly work with junior and sub-junior athletes, including children below 12 years of age and school students. The initiative, he said, was aimed at promoting compliance with safeguarding standards and protocols laid down by the Olympic movement.
Metha said the State Games would also serve as a launchpad for athletes seeking opportunities at higher levels of competition. Sports associations are expected to select state teams for the forthcoming Northeast Olympics, regional championships and national championships based on performances at the Games. He, however, clarified that participation in the National Games involves a separate qualification process.
Acknowledging the logistical challenges faced by the organisers, Metha appealed to athletes, officials and the public to extend cooperation and understanding, noting that Nagaland continued to face limitations in sports infrastructure and facilities.
He said accommodating more than 2,000 people under one roof and ensuring adequate food, lodging, laundry and sanitation facilities remained challenging. While the organising committee was making every effort to provide the best possible arrangements, he admitted that shortcomings and lapses could occur.
“We conduct these games and this sport under very challenging and difficult circumstances. There will be shortfalls, there will be mistakes, there will be areas where we fall short,” he said, urging participants to bring their concerns directly to the organisers so that issues could be resolved collectively.
Emphasising that the primary objective was to provide athletes with opportunities and platforms to perform, achieve and pursue their aspirations, Metha said every participant had worked hard, undergone training and competed at the district level to earn a place in their respective teams.
He appealed to citizens across the state to extend their prayers, blessings and support, calling for collective efforts under the spirit of “One Team Nagaland” to make the Games a success and advance the aspirations of the state’s young sportspersons.
