Guwahati: Union minister of state for sports and youth affairs Sarbananda Sonowal said his ministry has sought a proposal from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to make Guwahati the venue for the 2018 South Asian Games.

“In a recent meeting in Chennai, the IOA decided to hold the SAF games in Guwahati. There are many formalities involved in the process. So, my ministry has asked the IOA to give a detailed proposal,” Sonowal said here on Saturday.

He added that Guwahati has been selected as the venue for the first Himalayan region sports event. The minister said the date of the event has not been finalized. The sporting event would involve all states and countries which fall within the Himalayan region.

“We have decided to hold the National Youth Festival between January 8 and 12 in Guwahati. Around 5,000 delegates from all states and Union Territories will take part in the festival. Besides, leading sportspersons and representatives from various educational institutions will attend it,” Sonowal said.

The sports ministry has decided to set up football and archery academies in the northeast and introduce courses on sports medicine and science in medical colleges and educational institutions of the region.

“The northeast is a fertile ground for sports and sportspersons. The Centre will work to promote sporting talent in the region. At the same time, sports being a state subject, we request the state governments to come forward and improve the sporting environment of the northeast,” Sonowal said.

He added that he would request the HRD ministry to include sports in the educational curricula. Sonowal said the Centre has devised a policy to improve sporting infrastructure at the block-level in all states.

