Kolkata : The 5th Netaji Subhas State Games got off to a smart start at the SAI Eastern Centre. The Games were inaugurated by sports minister Aroop Biswas.
Minister Sadhan Pandey, Sujit Bose, MLA, Arjuna Award winners Joydeep Karmakar, Soma Biswas, Ali Qamar, Somyadeep Roy and Paulami Ghatak graced the occasion. All the five were felicitated by BOA president, Ajit Banerjee and secretary Chandan Roy Chowdhury.
The five Arjuna Awardees took oath on behalf of the participants. Athlete Swapana Barman was also present during the oath taking ceremony.
A brief yet smart cultural show enhanced the opening ceremony which was anchored by sports scribe Purnendu Chakraborty.
While declaring the games open the Sports Minister took the salute of the marching contingents and unfurled the BOA flag.
This is the first time Bengal Olympic Association has designed a Mascot for this Game, “Rabbit” which has been given a name “ABANG” by Chief Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, which means – AMAR BANGLA” and with a punch line “ESHO KHELI” .
A Theme Song for the Games composed by Piloo Bhattacharya is already creating a wave among the sports loving people of Bengal .
Bengal Olympic Association today felicitated four senior organizers this year , Shri Haripada Ghosh (Volleyball), Shri Nanda Lal Mukherjee (Throwball), Shri Dilip Ghosh (Badminton) and Shri Achintya Saha (Kabaddi) in appreciation of their valuable contribution in the field of sports over few decades.