Shillong, Jul 27: Sharing a few disciplines among other North East states while keeping the major events at the National Games 2027 in Meghalaya could still lead to complicated negotiations regarding athlete quotas.
A meeting was held on Friday between officials of Meghalaya and representatives of the other North East states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura – where a very public show of unity and bonhomie was put on.
This idea to share a few disciplines with the other regional states from what should be Meghalaya’s show had been presented in the past as a Meghalaya initiative, though the North East Sports Association yesterday suggested that it was a central government move “as a symbol of regional unity and partnership”.
What could be a tricky matter is the issue of quotas. Host states of major events like this typically receive an extra allocation of athletes where relevant. For example, each state might be limited to entering 10 archers but the hosts may be given space for 15. This is meant to boost interest in the Games in the host state. However, if, hypothetically, swimming is given to Assam to organise, will Assam get the extra allocation of swimmers, or will this still be held by Meghalaya as the main hosts?
How easily this issue is solved depends on how much bonhomie there really is between the states and what pressure the central government can bring to bear if push comes to shove.
NESA said that the meeting of Sports Ministers, Sports Secretaries and State Olympic Associations concluded “on a positive and collaborative note, with broad support expressed for Meghalaya’s preparations and the multi-state hosting concept.”
Delegates agreed to reconvene in the near future to finalise logistical and operational details of the proposal.
