Tura, 14 January 2024: The preparations for the 5th Meghalaya Games 2024 were well underway with all the participants reaching Tura in the morning hours of Sunday the 14th January.
The participants were welcomed by the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) along with the District administration of West Garo Hills at ISBT, Tura. The games are scheduled to be a weeklong affair.
The event is the first to be held within Garo Hills and President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to open the games at PA Sangma Stadium, Tura. It promises to be a very memorable occasion and numerous banners and posters can be seen on display celebrating the momentous occasion.
During the welcome ceremony, various artists of the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project were at hand to lift the spirits of the players and to inspire them to do their very best over the coming days.
During the evening, the participants were gathered at PA Sangma Stadium to coordinate and rehearse their particular programmes which would be held tomorrow during the Opening Ceremony.
About 3000 participants from all the state districts will be competing in 23 different sports and games at 16 different locations throughout Tura.
Turning back to the year 2022, we recall how inspite of some obstacles, 3000 participants were able to take part in 19 disciplines at 13 locations across Shillong. Over 700 medals were distributed in total.
The locations were Laban Indoor Stadium, Shillong Club, Madanrting Indoor Hall, Assam Regimental Centre, NEHU, Mawlai Mawroh Community Hall, Mawlai Madan Heh, Crinoline Swimming Pool, Khlaw Malki, Shillong Golf Course, NEIGRIHMS and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre.
That year’s closing ceremony also saw a notable gymnastics display by the young children of the Gymnastics Association of Meghalaya who mesmerised and dazzled the onlookers with their grace and skill.