Kohima, March 23 (EMN): The Nagaland government has earmarked funds amounting to INR two cr. to commemorate the centenary year of Naga footballer Dr. Talimeren Ao, India’s first and only Olympic football captain.
Presenting the budget for the fiscal 2018-2019, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announced that another INR 2 cr. has also been earmarked for the sports events this year.
As part of Dr. T. Ao centenary celebration, the state govt. will be coming up with a year-round calendar of sporting activities. It will include coaching camps for youngsters involving foreign coaches, exposure events for budding footballers and also to conduct tournaments.
In memory of the legendary footballer, Rio announced that a state-of-art T. Ao Regional Football Academy will be established in Nagaland, while T Ao Sports Awards will also be restored from this year onwards so as to reward and recognize the achievements of our sportspersons, coaches and administrators who have given yeoman service to the state.
Stating that promotion of games and sports will be one of the thrust areas of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government, Rio said his govt. will come up with a new “Nagaland Sports Policy” which will be formulated by engaging all sections and stakeholders including inputs from professionals, international sportspersons and experienced sports administrators.
“We have to plan a strategy where sports become an industry that provides gainful employment inside and outside the competitive arenas.
Our aim is to make Nagaland a hub of sporting activities where national and international level sporting events are held regularly and we produce sportspersons of international calibre,” Rio said.
The CM was also of the opinion that the State must conduct more events and competitions in a specialized manner and the Olympic movement will streamlined into a full time professional centric approach. To this, he drew the attention of all concerned stakeholders that Naga youth have tremendous talent in games and sports, adding that the govt. will have to take up all possible measures to provide opportunities, avenues and open up vistas for them to achieve success at the highest level of competitions.
“We will empower the sports association and federations and at the same time make them responsible by bringing them under a monitoring mechanism under the Olympic Association. We want our youth and sportspersons to be positive ambassadors of the Naga people.
Rio also announced that the Hornbill International motor rally will be restored and that Nagaland will host a national level Nagaland Cross Country under the aegis of the Athletic Federation of India.
CM Rio further announced that the govt. will take steps for introducing Nagaland leagues in selected prioritised disciplines.
