Teams arrive in Guwahati for National Games

Guwahati, Feb 7 (UNI) With just a day between for the 33rd National Games to kick off, host city Guwahati is bustling with activities as players from across the country have started arriving.

Till yesterday, nine of the total 33 participating teams from different states had arrived and more are expected today. More than 10,000 people, including players and officials, are expected to converge here for the Games.

The entire contingents of Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh with 230 and 112 members repectively arrived yesterday.

A few members of state teams from West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Uttaranchal have already reached Guwahati yesterday.

The other teammates of these players and officials were expected to reach by tomorrow.

A first batch of about 70 players from neighbouring Manipur is likely to arrive today while Meghalaya's team would reach tomorrow.

Nagaland is also due to arrive today.

The teams from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orrisa and Jharkhand are expected to arrive today in full strength.

The other participating teams are scheduled to arrive in batches during the two days.

Meanwhile, the arrival of the teams has also marked activity in the Games Village, touted to be among the best ever in any sporting festival.

The teams were welcomed with songs in their mother tongues by a live band of local youths, a first in the history of the Games.

A few players were reported to have broke into a spontaneous dance on hearing the music and lauded the efforts of the organisers.

The host Asom contingent entered the Village today, with the state Chief Minister also participating in a rally taken out on the occasion.

The players and officials have expressed satisfaction at the programme organised to welcome them and the facilities of the Village.

Members of the Punjab men's football team praised the infrastructure of the Village and had high words of appreciation for the volunteers.

UNI