Dimapur, Aug. 19 (EMN): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sent ‘best wishes’ to all the participants of Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic Games 2022 ahead of its kick off on Monday.
The state’s biggest sporting event will officially commence on August 22 and conclude on the 27th. Football event had started on August 17 but the rest of the games will begin only after the formal inauguration.
In his message, made available to this newspaper by the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), Modi said the state’s biggest sporting event “will certainly pave the way for many young sportspersons from this beautiful state to make their mark at the national and international levels”.
“It is also noteworthy that the Games are furthering empowerment by starting the tradition of including Paralympic sports at the State Games,” read the message.
Modi said that in New India, sporting excellence is becoming a way of life. “Be it the record medal tally in the Tokyo Olympics, the unprecedented performance in the Tokyo Paralympics that exceeded the total tallies of all previous editions, or the brilliant efforts seen in the recent Commonwealth Games, youth are putting India on the sporting map of the world like never before,” he said.
On the Games motto ‘Stronger together’, he said the two words succinctly capture the spirit of sport and its impact.
“Sport knows no boundaries or barriers, no divisions or disharmony. People may belong to any social or economic background outside, but on the field, they are athletes who are pushing their limits in a quest to bring glory to their team, district, state, or nation,” the Prime Minister said.
Conveying his best wishes to each and every sportsperson participating in the Games, Modi said they are the future of India and that their enthusiastic involvement in such sporting events augurs well for the nation.
“The coaches and support staff of all these sportspersons also deserve our appreciation for encouraging and guiding young athletes. I wish the Nagaland Olympic Association and the Government of Nagaland great success in organising these Games,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NOA thanked the prime minister for his message on the eve of the Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic Games 2022.
The association, in an update, stated that Modi’s message is a great source of encouragement not just for the Olympic fraternity of Nagaland but also to all youngsters, especially the sportspersons.
“While appreciating the support and solidarity of the Honorable Prime Minister, we continue to look up to his support and guidance in the future too,” it stated.