File picture of the 18th Olympic Day Run in Guwahati, which was part of the National Games awareness campaign

Guwahati, Oct. 25: The Assam Olympic Association (AOA) and the National Games Secretariat (NGS) have joined hands to launch the “100 days to go” campaign for the National Games at the newly built Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Sarusajai here on October 30.

The twice-postponed Games will start from February 9 and will continue till February 18.

AOA general secretary Mukut Medhi has requested chief minister Tarun Gogoi and IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh to be part of the campaign as chief guest and distinguished guest respectively.

“From November 1, exactly 100 days will remain for the start of the mega event. Through the campaign, we would like people to start counting down the days to the Games. People of the state should start talking about the games in earnest. Those associated with the AOA will act together to ensure that the mega event starts as scheduled,” Medhi said.

The AOA has convened an emergency meeting of the state sports associations at 5 pm tomorrow at the new office of the AOA to be housed in the NGS Building at Rudra Singha Sports Complex instead of its existing office at the R.G. Baruah Sports complex.

“P.C. Sharma, additional chief secretary, looking after the sports department as well as the National Games, will be inaugurating the new office at 4 pm tomorrow. We wish to discuss all critical issues confronting the Games and apprise the same to Dispur for smooth conduct of the event,” Medhi added.

As part of the campaign, a bike rally will be taken out from the stadium, which will tour the city and its adjoining areas. Besides, an “innovative sports-related programme” comprising schoolchildren is also being planned.

“We are planning to gather around 3,000 schoolchildren from greater Guwahati for the programme,” Medhi said.

An NGS official said the AOA is working on the details. “We are busy with the organisational aspects. The next week will be extremely hectic,” he said.

Sources said the NGS has to finetune a lot of things regarding the conduct of the games as well as equipment since the chief minister is taking more than cursory interest in the Games preparation.