Shillong, Jul 15: The Meghalaya government has made provisions to support sports associations that wish to send athletes abroad for training and exposure in preparation for the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya is slated to host next year.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla clarified that overseas exposure programmes are optional and that the decision rests with the respective sports associations.
Such programmes could prove beneficial by giving athletes valuable competitive experience and helping them prepare to face top-level participants at the National Games, he added.
Meanwhile, Shylla also repeated that the state government has estimated a total bill of around Rs 600 crore to host the Games and that Meghalaya has submitted proposals to the central government for financial assistance to cover expenses.
While the ongoing monsoon has posed some challenges in terms of infrastructure construction, Shylla expressed confidence that the projects would be completed well before the event.
“Work is progressing, and we are hopeful that all the required infrastructure will be ready by December or January, ahead of the Games,” he said.
