Shillong Feb 11: Clouded Leopard has been chosen as the mascot for the upcoming National Games to be hosted by Meghalaya in 2022, the year when the state will also celebrate its fiftieth year of statehood.

Clouded Leopard is also the state animal of Meghalaya.

At the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Games 2022 chaired by Sports Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh on Monday, the members agreed that Clouded Leopard will be the mascot for the National Games and the competition to design a smiling Clouded Leopard will be opened to all.

Chief Secretary, Y. Tsering, Additional Chief Secretary, P.W. Ingty, Principal Secretary (Sports and Youth Affairs), Donald Phillips Wahlang, besides DGP, R. Chandranathan, Additional Director General of Police, H. Non gpluh, CEO of Games Secretariat, and other officials from the state PWD roads and buildings, Working President and General Secretary MSOA, Deputy Director General NIC, Timothy Dkhar, and Chief Engineer of State Sports Council attended the meeting.

A statement issued here on Monday evening said that the meeting also decided that a competition will be opened to all to finalize the logo and the theme of the National Games which will be conducted by the Information and Public Relations department along with the Education department.

“To finalize the number of sporting events, venues and sports infrastructure, it was agreed that Sub-Committees would be formed to be headed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Games Secretariat who will then submit a report to the National Games Organising Committee,” the statement said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma is the Chairman of the National Games Organising Committee.

Working President of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) suggested that participants in the national games be also identified from among the police personnel and the Director General of Police (DGP), R. Chandranathan agreed to talent spotting in the police department.

“It was also discussed that the Home (police) department will give incentives to sports persons and a policy to implement the same will be drafted by the department,” it said.

“The Master Plan will be compiled by the Director Sports and Youth Affairs department and submitted to the of National Games Organising Committee chairman (Chief Minister) in the first week of May this year,” the statement added.

The Sports Minister informed the members during the meeting that the main stadium will be funded by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and the stadium will be constructed in a government land at Mawdiangdiang measuring approximately 50 acres.

It was also agreed that 64.34 acres of land will be acquired from MUDA to construct the Games Village. A total of approximately 114.34 acres of land has been identified for critical infrastructure for the national games.

The NIC along with the IT department will develop a website for the National Games.

The government has also appointed an interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Games Secretariat, P S Dkhar and his appointment has already been notified by the Government.