Countdown Begins for 10th National Games in Karnali

Surkhet. Only 30 days are left for the Tenth National Games to be held in Karnali Province. The countdown for the competition, which will be held from December 1 to 12, was started with a program on Monday. Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmita Pokharel, inaugurated the countdown program on Monday by participating herself. This means that the work of the competition has officially started from today's date. The competition is being organized by the National Sports Council and co-organized by the Karnali Province Sports Development Council, and both levels of government claim that all preparatory work is in full swing. Discussions were held at the countdown program regarding potential accommodation problems in Birendranagar and the fact that the main venue for the competition, the provincial stadium, has not yet been handed over. Province Sports Development Council's Member Secretary Rabin Chand said that some payment is still due and the handover work will be done in a few days. He also said that not handing over the stadium will not significantly affect the competition. Regarding accommodation, Vice-Chairman of the Council, Pramod Hamal, said there will be no problem. 'We discussed this matter, and the hotel entrepreneurs have also said there will be no problem,' he said. Central Sports Minister Sasmita Pokharel claimed that all the necessary things for the competition have been formally completed. However, he said that the publicity it should have received has not happened. 'We have come here because the enthusiasm that should be there for such a big Tenth National Games is somewhat lacking,' he told reporters. The 30-day countdown has also started exactly from today. He said that we should move forward to celebrate it grandly in a festive manner by completing the formal preparations. 'We are currently working only for that, and all other preparations have been completed,' he added. 'We also met with the Chief Minister and the Minister of Social Development of the province, and the discussion went very well. They are also doing what they need to do from their side, and we are also doing our part.' He also said that the provincial government and the federal government communicate almost regularly by phone to make the competition grand. Pokharel claims that there are no more problems with the competition. According to him, a work division has been made regarding what each government will do. Work is being done accordingly. While the federal government is the main organizer, the federal government is responsible for things like the preparation of this competition, how many games to play, how to play them, the process, and everything from prize distribution. The provincial government has to arrange accommodation here and arrange transportation, and the provincial government is doing all that work, and that work division is clear. 'We have formed various sub-committees,' he added. 'The sub-committees have representation from the federal government and the provincial government. Especially the maintenance of the grounds here, accommodation, and transportation, the provincial government is looking after all of that.' He said that the local government is also playing a role in promoting tourism. According to him, since there are 30 days left, the responsibility has been distributed such that at least one member from each sub-committee will stay in Karnali. 'Because many works, including the procurement process, have been done from Kathmandu, it might not have been visible,' he added. 'But now that there are 30 days left and almost all processes are completed, it has been decided that at least one person from each sub-committee here will stay and visibly work on those tasks.' He said that he himself came to Birendranagar to understand the reality on the ground. 'There may be some shortcomings, and I myself have come to Birendranagar to identify them in advance and figure out how to complete them,' he added. After coming here, he said that Karnali is ready for the sports competition. 'After reaching Surkhet today and personally observing the stadium and sports infrastructure, it was seen that Karnali is ready for the Tenth National Games,' he said. He also said that this long-delayed grand event of the National Games will now reach new heights with the geography of Karnali. Karnali Chief Minister Mangal Bahadur Shahi said that all stakeholders should play a role in making the competition, which is being held in Karnali for the first time, successful. 'This is an opportunity for us, and also a challenge,' he said. 'We are doing everything we need to do from our side.'