Govt signs revised pact for National Games 2027
Rs 133-cr Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Hall inaugurated at JN Sports Complex
Shillong, May 30: Meghalaya set another milestone towards hosting the 39th National Games next year with the revised Host State Agreement signed in Shillong in presence of Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday. They also inaugurated the Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Hall, one of the key assets for the Games, at JN Sports Complex here.
The revised agreement was signed between Government of Meghalaya and Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Meghalaya Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla, IOA President Dr PT Usha, and officials of IOA and State Olympic Associations of Northeastern states also attended the occasion.
The signing follows the conclusion of the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand in 2025 and the ceremonial handover of the Games flag to Meghalaya. The 2027 edition will coincide with Meghalaya’s 55th Statehood year.
More than 10,000 athletes are expected to compete across three host cities — Shillong, Tura and Jowai — with the event estimated to generate “over 5,400 employment opportunities for the people of the State”, according to an official statement.
“The Games will be a collective Northeast moment,” with other Northeastern states enjoying “host participation rights for disciplines held within their territories”, the statement said.
In his address, Dr Mandaviya praised Meghalaya for “its remarkable efforts and preparedness for hosting the 39th National Games,” noting that the state “has demonstrated exceptional capability in executing projects in a timely and efficient manner.”
He said the upcoming Mawkhanu Football Stadium would be “a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting national and international matches,” adding that “such infrastructure will significantly boost tourism and create employment in the region.”
He also highlighted Meghalaya’s “strong tradition of organic food, which the State has immense potential to showcase to the rest of the country.”
Addressing the occasion, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma reaffirmed Meghalaya’s commitment to “establishing itself as a leading sporting hub in India.”
He said the development of “world-class infrastructure and the hosting of national and international events will transform the State’s sports ecosystem and create new opportunities for its youth.”
“Hosting the 39th National Games is just the beginning of a long-term vision to build a strong and lasting sports culture in Meghalaya,” Sangma said, urging young athletes “to make the most of the historic opportunity to compete on home soil and bring glory to the State.”
Meanwhile, the Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Hall at JN Sports Complex was built at a cost of Rs 133 crore and funded by the New Development Bank under the Meghalaya Ecotourism Infrastructure Development Project.
The Integrated Multipurpose Indoor Hall is “one of the finest indoor sports facilities in the country,” according to the statement.
It was completed in about 2.5 years “despite challenging terrain and climatic conditions”, it stated.
The hall has been prepared to host competitions of Basketball and Kabaddi during the 39th National Games 2027.
Post-Games, it will house a High-Performance Sports Science Centre offering “biomechanics, performance analytics, sports medicine, physiotherapy, nutrition, and sports psychology.”
The facility is part of a wider infrastructure push that includes the Umsawli Sports Complex, the PA Sangma Sports Complex in Tura, and the upcoming Mawkhanu Football Stadium, set to be “the largest dedicated football stadium in the Northeast.”
