Preparations intensify for 10th National Games in Karnali
Federal and provincial officials are finalizing infrastructure and athlete selection as the 10th National Games approach in December.
Federal and provincial authorities are stepping up preparations for the 10th National Games, due to be held in Karnali Province from December 2 (Mangsir 16). Reports differ on the closing date: Nagarik News and Annapurna Post give Mangsir 27 (December 13), while Onlinekhabar, citing the Ministry of Education and Sports, gives Mangsir 26 (December 12). Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel visited Surkhet this week to inspect infrastructure and coordinate with stakeholders.
During the visit, Minister Pokharel met Karnali Chief Minister Mangal Bahadur Shahi and Minister for Social Development Jeet Bahadur Malla. Onlinekhabar and Nagarik News reported that the talks covered infrastructure construction, management and other preparations, and the coordination needed between the federal and provincial governments. Pokharel said the ministry is working with all parties to finish the competition on the set timeline, and he committed full federal support to developing and managing sports infrastructure in Karnali.
Shahi and Malla said the province's preparations had reached their final stage. At a separate discussion organised by the accommodation management subcommittee, Shahi asked the Karnali Province Sports Development Council to select the best athletes and good coaches. According to Annapurna Post, he said the budget would not be a problem and that the provincial government was ready to give more than the council asked for. He also urged everyone to stop worrying that the games might be postponed.
Meanwhile, in Sudurpashchim Province, preparations to select athletes for the national competition have begun. According to Nagarik News, the Sudurpashchim Provincial Sports Council said more than 2,600 athletes from nine districts have filled in forms for 32 sports. Council member secretary Lok Bahadur Khadka said the provincial government has allocated Rs 45 million (Rs 4.5 crore) for district and provincial selection and preparations.
Coaching remains a challenge. Khadka said several sports have no trainers in the province's seven hill districts and two Terai districts. The province asked the National Sports Council for 32 volunteer coaches, and the process to appoint 16 volunteer coaches for 16 sports is moving ahead. The provincial council has told all nine districts to finish district selection and send in athlete lists by Kartik 18 (November 4). Gopal Dutta Bhatt, head of the district sports committee office in Kanchanpur, said 790 athletes there have filled in forms.