FOREWORD

Bringing the Games to
Guwahati & Shillong
The South Asian Games, a multi-discipline biennial
sporting event of the eight South Asian Countries-
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka- are considered as
the Olympic Games of South Asia. The unique
event is held to promote the spirit of brotherhood
and friendship among the South Asian countries
through sports as the binding element.
The first South Asian Games were hosted in
Kathmandu, Nepal in 1984 and the previous
edition was hosted by Bangladesh in Dhaka in
2010. The scale and magnitude of the event has
grown with each passing edition. As per the
rotation policy of South Asia Olympic Council
(SAOC) constitution, the 12th South Asian Games
were supposed to be held in Bhutan, but when
Bhutan expressed its inability to hold the Games,
the Executive Committee of SAOC decided to
award India the hosting rights for the 12th edition
of the South Asian Games.
12 th SOUTH ASIAN GAMES | POST GAMES REPORT 11