Blend of 8 rivers to mark South Asian unity

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 1: The waters from eight rivers of the SAARC countries will be mixed at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 12th South Asian Games slated from February 5. The idea of such a blend is the show of oneness of South Asia.

A source from the organizing committee revealed this, and said, “The waters were brought from the Sindhu or Indus (Pakistan), the Kabul River (Afghanistan), the Kosi (Nepal), the Padma (Bangladesh), the Mahaweli River (Sri Lanka), Raidak (Bhutan), a lake in Maldives (as there is no river there) and the Brahmaputra.

Prime Minister rendra Modi will attend the iugural ceremony and declare the meet open in the presence of the athletes from the eight participating countries, ministers and diplomats from the SAARC region including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Maldives.  Two chief minister of host states-Tarun Gogoi and Mukul Sangma will also be among the high profile guests.

The culture of the Northeast region will be showcased during the opening ceremony where a few performers like Zubeen Garg, Angarag Mahanta and hid Afrin, first runners up in Indian Idol Junior, will show their vocal prowess while the oneness of South Asia will be accorded prominence. Shillong Orchestra will also likely to perform in the programme.

The 12th South Asian Games will have 228 events and will take part around 2600 athletes. There will be altogether 228 gold medals, same number of silver and 308 bronze in the Games.

Meanwhile Cycling team of Nepal today arrived in the city to take part in the South Asian Games. Guwahati will host the cycling event which will be held at tiol Highway 37. Athletes from many other countries  which included Nepal and Bangladesh are expected to land in the city tomorrow. Pakistan, although  decided to come Guwahati by a chartered flight, has cancelled their earlier travel plan and will now arrive on batches. Informing the news, the source said, “ Pakistan has changed their earlier plan and will now arrive in batches and first team is expected to arrive within next two days.”