Shillong, Nov 8: Large numbers of officials, volunteers and other workers engaged with the 2nd North East Olympic Games 2022 and Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang has praised the all-out effort being put in to make the mega sporting event a success.
NEOG 2022 is set to officially begin on Thursday, though the football events are already underway.
Speaking to a gathering of senior officials, administrators and the Meghalaya State Olympic Association, Wahlang likened this event to the prelims of civil service exams, with the main event to be the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya is scheduled to host.
“We have done well so far and started on a positive note and I must congratulate all of you who have put in so much effort. The Games Secretariat has been working tirelessly,” the Chief Secretary said.
He added that the most important aspect of the Games is safety and security and tasked everyone present to make that a priority. “We have to work collectively and success will be collective as well,” he stated.
Of the football matches that began on Monday, he said that no one has raised any flags but that the main act begins on Wednesday when 2,500 other athletes arrive in the state capital.
Wanshan Kharkrang, the Tournament Director for football, spoke briefly about his discipline, the start of which has been able to give the organisers an idea about the finer points. “One week of 16-hour workdays has enabled us to put on an event that has brought honour to Meghalaya and this is our opportunity to give something back to the state,” he said.
Rangksan Mawroh, who is in charge of the accommodation for a large number of athletes at Shillong Engineering College, explained the challenge in making the venue ready but also spoke of the honour that it has been to work on the project. Around 1,300 athletes are to be housed there over the course of the week-long sports extravaganza.
The concluding address was given by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo. “What we have been working on are all small pieces of a bigger puzzle and on 10th November we’ll see a beautiful picture come together,” she said.
Other senior officials present on the occasion were Additional CEO of NEOG 2022 and Secretary to the government of Meghalaya, Cyril VD Diengdoh and Director of Sports & Youth Affairs, Shivansh Awasthi IAS.
(DIPR file photo of the welcoming committee that receives athletes when they arrive in Shillong)
