Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma will officially launch the Meghalaya leg of the 12th South Asian Games in a two-hour-long glittering opening ceremony that promises to showcase the cultural and natural beauty of the state here tomorrow.
The ceremony will begin at 5.30pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here as the organisers expect a sellout crowd of 10,000 even as the SA Games have already begun here today with archery and women's football.
The highlight of the opening ceremony here will be the performances by Shillong Chamber Choir which shot to fame after it won a reality talent show in 2010. There will also be a performance by Indian actor and television host Meiyang Chang, who starred in films like Badmaash Company and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy.
"It will be a ceremony which will reflect the cultural and bio-engineering ethos of the state," Joint CEO of the South Asian Games, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, who is also the Commissioner and Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt of Meghalaya, said today.
According to Kharkongor, the launch will also showcase the bio-engineering wonder 'the Living Root Bridges' and sequences which will reflect the monsoon in the state.
Tomorrow's launch of the Shillong leg of the SAG will have special showcase on the cleanest village in Asia-Mawlynnong. The village had found mention in Prime Minister's monthly radio talk "Maan Ki Baat".
The show will be hosted by Siddhartha Basu, an Indian television producer-director and quiz show host, known for shows like, Kaun Banega Crorepati.
The Joint CEO further informed that there will be a display of fireworks.
According to Kharkongor, tomorrow's launch is organised by the State Government and the Chief Guest would be Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.
According to the Joint CEO, the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sarbananda Sonowal may attend the launch in Shillong.
Kharkongor added that officials from the Indian Olympic Association, High Commissioners of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Sports Minister of Nepal are likely to attend the programme in the city on Saturday.
Doordarshan will webcast the ceremony from its website.
