SENAPATI, Dec 18: The 2nd Zeme Olympics 2024 came to a spectacular close on Wednesday, with a vibrant valedictory ceremony held at Zenamyi village in Senapati District, Manipur.
The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including the Special Guest Shri Armstrong Pame, IAS, Director of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, and the Guest of Honour Shri Koheuteung Chuilo Hau, Chairman of the Zeme Literature Board (Northeast India).
In his address, Shri Armstrong Pame highlighted the positive trajectory of the Zeme Olympics and expressed optimism about the future. He stated his hope that the event would produce world-class Olympians from the Zeme Naga community in the next four to five years, coinciding with the 3rd Edition of the Zeme Olympics. Pame also introduced 15-year-old Mariale Pame from Impa village, a promising talent currently training at the National Sports Academy in Imphal. Mariale recently secured a bronze medal in the 52kg weight category at the Open Talent Hunt in Haryana, representing Manipur. Encouraging the youth, Pame called for greater professionalism in sports and offered his unwavering support to uplift the next generation of athletes.
Shri Koheuteung Chuilo Hau, in his speech, stressed the importance of cultural unity within the Zeme community. He emphasized the need for a common literature to bridge the gap between the Northern and Southern Zeme communities across Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland. Hau also introduced an initiative to incorporate this unified language in schools, churches, and community organisations, aiming to foster greater cohesion. The ceremony concluded with the joint inauguration of the Football Final match by the Special Guest and the Guest of Honour.
The day’s highlights included the thrilling conclusion of the Men’s and Women’s Volleyball tournaments. In the Men’s final, Peletkie village emerged victorious, claiming the Champion Trophy, while Mbaupunggwa village finished as the Runner-Up. The Women’s category saw team Peren take the top honours, with team Nsong securing the Runner-Up position.
Other notable events included the Battle of Horn, where the champion medal was claimed by a representative from Mbaupunggwa, and a spirited tug-of-war contest between fans of football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In a highly contested match, the Ronaldo fans were declared victorious, as they crowned Cristiano Ronaldo as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time), a title determined by the passionate fans.
The day was also marked by a five-gun salute, symbolising the five-year journey and remarkable growth of the Zeme Olympic Association since its inception in 2019.
In the highly anticipated Football final, Jalukie Town emerged as champions, winning the prestigious Zeme Olympics Football trophy along with a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh. Mandeu, the Runner-Up, received a cash prize of ₹75,000.
The successful conclusion of the 2nd Zeme Olympics marks another significant milestone in the celebration of sport, culture, and unity within the Zeme Naga community. With growing aspirations for future editions, the event has once again proven to be an essential platform for fostering talent and solidarity among the Zeme people.
