An NOC meeting has endorsed the requests by the respective associations for membership recently on the basis of participation of the games in regional and continental tournaments and their popularity in Nepal. [break]
"We have consulted international authorities and decided to grant the membership," said NOC President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan at a press conference on Monday.
This is the first time NOC has added members after its establishment.
"International Cricket Council is already in Olympic movement and we are also participating in tournaments like SAG and Asian Games. We are not separate from the Olympic movement," said CAN President Binaya Raj Pandey. Likewise, Nepal Chess Association President Rajesh Hari Joshi thanked NOC for the membership.
Youth Olympics
NOC President Pradhan informed that four Nepali athletes would participate on the First Youth Olympics in Singapore through the universality quota awarded to Nepal. "Three athletics players and a taekwondo player will represent Nepal in the Youth Olympics, being held in Singapore from August 14 to 26," said Pradhan.
NOC has picked Tilak Ram Tharu (100 m sprint), Manish Adhikari (400 m race) and Bishwa Rupa Budha (1000 m race) from athletics while Ranjan Shrestha will represent taekwondo in Singapore.
Athletics coach Hari Bahadur Rokaya is looking after the training of the three athletes in Malaysia beginning June 27 while Shrestha and taekwondo coach Deep Raj Gurung will join them on July 9.
Asian Games
NOC, at the same press conference, informed that it has confirmed and registered the games in which Nepal will participate during the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
NOC President Pradhan also informed that they are now working on players´ registration. However, National Sports Council, which is responsible for players´ preparations, has been complaining of fund crunch for the preparations.
Concept of Mountain Games
NOC officials also informed that the committee has been floating the concept of mountain games at the Asian Olympic Committee´s meeting in Muscat, Oman. NOC General Secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha will present concept papers of mountain games at the meeting being held on July 15.
"I have been working on the concept papers," said NOC Vice President Rabi Raj Thapa. "Every country is adding games of their choice in the Olympics and introducing different tournaments. We also thought that we could host rock-climbing, high altitude marathon, rafting etc," added Thapa.
"If the Muscat meeting endorses it, we will present details about the concept in Guangzhou during the Asian Games," said General Secretary Shrestha. "If our concept is accepted, we can host the First Asian Mountain Games in Nepal. However, we have long way to go," added Shrestha.
General Assembly and Sports Congress
NOC has announced its annual general assembly will be held on August 28 in Kathmandu and formed a seven-member preparations committee headed by General Secretary Shrestha.
Meanwhile, NOC has announced it will organize a sports congress on September 17-18. The officials of 26 NOC member associations will discuss associations management, autonomy and financial issues at the congress.
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