While attending a meeting with the newly inducted Union MoS (Independent) for Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren Rijiju last Monday at New Delhi, both Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Sports Minister Mama Natung  conducted wide ranging discussions on development of sports activities and sports infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh. But among the host of topics that featured during talks, the most vital seems to be the one concerning the status of sports infrastructure and other logistics preparedness in the state which is planning to host the prestigious National Games by 2024. If the plan materializes, it will not only add more to the development of sports in the state but also pave way for overall advancement of a slew of vital aspects.

Even if a casual glance is given over what’s happening in the sporting world it can be easily known  how nations engage in duel amongst each other when it comes to  earning the position  of  ‘host nation’  for conducting major sporting events. Interestingly, the more substantial reasons that transpires are linked to issues which are only remotely linked to the concerned sporting event. And it is undoubtedly the great catalytic role these sporting events play in rejuvenating the fundamental areas of economy, education, health and many others which amply explains the logic behind this clamour. Nonetheless, it needs little emphasis that for developing sports, infrastructure is the foremost perquisite and realising this, scores of nations who have invested heavily in it had ultimately emerged as global sporting powers. In India, multiple recommendations for sports infrastructure development, such as following the  private or PPP mode, hosting of international events at regular intervals and a host of others have been made. Although aggressive investing in sports infrastructure has started, it has a long way to go and when it comes to Arunachal it is abysmally low.

There must be no need for repeating that Arunachalees like and love sports and possess the capabilities to bring laurels for the nation in various disciplines particularly in martial arts, boxing, weightlifting, football, etc. A major national sporting event like the National Games will surely act as a tonic to replenish the on-going sports infrastructure build-ups due to the sheer urge to finish them within deadlines and make the mega event successful. Other intrinsically linked areas such as road connectivity, tourism, internet connectivity, sports merchandising and many more might also get fresh lease of lives which will all remain as assets for  the state’s  posterity to reap benefits.

With the belief that the National Games is going to be a smart game-changer for the state, all energies must be devoted from now onwards to make the Arunachal edition the best so far.