Our Reporter
Dimapur, March 12 (EMN): Nagaland Adventure and Motor Sports Association (NAMSA) and FAMSANE organised a dedicatory function of NAMSA complex and North East Adventure and Motorsports Conclave at the Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence in Sovima village, Chumoukedima on Saturday.
Delivering the keynote address, associate vice president of Athletics Federation of India, Abu Metha said that sports is no longer a hobby or a recreational activity but rather a science, a profession, and a career and added that it has become a multi-billion dollar industry.
Metha stated that facilities such as the Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence, investment in sports and creating avenues in human resources to ensure Nagas finish on the podium in sports arenas around the world are some ambitions of the Nagaland Olympics Association and the state government.
Metha maintained that NAMSA has been a pioneering organisation not only in Nagaland but also across the country in bringing some of the top motor sports talent from all over the country to Nagaland to compete and display their skills.
Metha urged the motor sports fraternity to send a strong statement that the country's motor sports headquarters should be located in the Northeast since the region has the needed geography, people resource, natural beauty, and terrain challenges.
He further stressed on the need to synchronise and sensitise motorsports and adventure sports with tourism as statistics showed that Indian tourists spend over INR 600 crore travelling around the world. He was optimistic that it could make a positive impact on the economy, if they could capitalise even a small percentage of that tourism.
The advisor of School Education and special guest, KT Sukhalu, said that youngsters have the potential to flourish in sports but lack avenues and centres. He, however, stated that the construction of facilities such as the Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence would undoubtedly assist young people in honing their skills and developing their potential.
Sukhalu went on to say that even via athletics, one could earn a living as well as serve as an ambassador to other younger youths and help the Northeast become a centre of excellence.
The advisor called upon the younger generation to be dedicated and sincere, as many people tend to backslide once they achieve a certain level of success.
The programme was followed by an open house discussion in which Lima Imsong made a PowerPoint presentation, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the president of NAMSA.