Shillong, May 20: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday cleared the air surrounding Meghalaya’s role in the 2027 National Games, asserting that the state will be the sole host of the event and that the majority of the competitions including the opening and closing ceremonies will be held in Meghalaya.
“There is no other state that is hosting the Games. Meghalaya is the host state..this is very, very clear,” Sangma said in response to public speculation following recent remarks by the state’s Sports Minister.
The clarification comes amid reports suggesting that other northeastern states may be involved in hosting parts of the Games. Sangma explained that while inclusivity is being promoted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Government of India, Meghalaya will retain primary hosting responsibilities.
“To promote inclusiveness, one or two disciplines may be given to different northeastern states. This is just to send a positive message of unity across the region,” Sangma said. “However, 25-plus disciplines will be conducted here in Meghalaya, and the opening and closing ceremonies will also be held here.”
He reiterated that the event is not a jointly-hosted one, but rather a fully Meghalaya-led initiative with only symbolic participation from neighboring states. “This is a completely Meghalaya-hosted program. There is no confusion and no question of it being a jointly-hosted Games,” he added.
It is worth mentioning that Meghalaya Chief Minister has pledged that the sporting extravaganza, in 2027, will be plastic-free.
With thousands of athletes and officials expected to descend on Meghalaya for the National Games, the potential for plastic waste is enormous. From water bottles to snacks, signage, packaged food, ID tags and even sportswear made from polyester or other artificial fabrics, the scale of the waste problem is likely to be enormous.
