Conditions improving for 10th National Games

By Our Correspondent,Bulbul (Surkhet), Nov. 28: If held on the originally scheduled date, the 10th National Sports Tournament would have been completed a year ago. 

Although a decision had been made to host the event in Karnali from 17 to 24 November 2024, even after a year the tournament has yet to take place. 

The competition, repeatedly postponed, now appears to be moving towards a more favourable environment for its organisation.

With the active involvement of Youth and Sports Minister Bablu Gupta, the National Sports Council has recently decided to hold the 10th National Sports Tournament in the first week of Falgun. 

According to the fourth rescheduled date, the competition will run from 13 to 19 February this year. Despite the announcement of the date, criticism had mounted as the province designated to host the tournament remained without officials in its sports authority. 

Following widespread pressure, the provincial government has now initiated the process of appointing a Member Secretary to the Sports Council.

The Council has been without officials for the past 11 months. The four-year tenure of Vice-President Pramod Hamal and Member Secretary Bishwamitra Sanjyal expired on 21 December 2024. 

Since then, the Council has been operating solely with the support of its staff, as new officials were not appointed.

Delays in appointments were caused by changes in government and disputes over political power-sharing. 

The tussle between the ruling CPN-UML, which leads the Province government, and the Nepali Congress, which heads the Ministry of Social Development, left the Council without leadership for an extended period, paralysing its administrative functions.

As the key infrastructure required for the 10th National Sports Tournament was not completed, the federal government repeatedly postponed the event, citing weaknesses in preparation.

Now, however, the government has begun the process of appointing officials. Applications have been invited for the post of Member Secretary. 

The Ministry of Social Development has called for submissions from individuals with experience in the sports sector.