Shillong Sept 7: The 15th Senior State Swimming Competition organised by the Meghalaya Swimming Association in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs at Crinoline Swimming Pool, Nongmalki, Shillong concluded on Saturday.

Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma who grace the occasion as chief quest, said that the Government has initiated measures to improve sports infrastructure in the State.

Acknowledging the talent of young swimmers, the Chief Minister said that measures were being taken to improve facilities in the State. ‘The government is aware of the challenges being faced and we are looking at ways to improve and develop quality infrastructure across the State to support our athletes’, he said.

The Chief Minister informed that the State is on the verge of being allotted an Olympic sized swimming pool as part of the initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to develop sports infrastructure for persons with disabilities and said that such facilities can also be used by other sports associations to develop and promote sporting talents in the State.

Lauding the efforts of the Sports Associations, the Chief Minister said that the Government has taken steps to extend necessary help and support to them.

He also informed that the prize money awarded by the State to sports persons winning gold at national championships has been increased to two lakhs from the earlier seven thousand, adding that an Olympic gold winner will be entitled to a prize money of seventy five lakhs from the State.