GUWAHATI, Jan 3 � Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal today informed that Guwahati may host the South Asian Games involving all the SAARC countries under the aegis of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
He said that the IOA meeting held in Chennai recently has decided to host the event in India. �My Ministry is awaiting concrete proposal from IOA to conduct the SA Games at Guwahati�, Sonowal said.
Interacting with the mediapersons here today, the Union Minister said that the detail proposal has been sought by the Ministry from the IOA in this regard.
Sonowal also announced that the Himalayan Region Sports Competition involving countries like Nepal Bhutan and the eight north-eastern States besides Jammu and Kaskmir, Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh will also be held in Guwahati although the date is yet to be finalized.
He also stated that Guwahati is going to host the National Youth festival from January 8 to 12 and sports personalities like Virendra Sehwag, Mary Kom and Sushil Kumar among others will attend the event.
A total of over 5000 delegates including students from 10 countries studying in India and those studying in top educational institutes have also confirmed their participation.
�We have also decided to set up football and archery academies, introduce sports medicines and sports science in medical colleges and educational institutions in the North East,� he added.
