2nd Zeme Olympics 2024 concludes

The 2nd Zeme Olympics 2024 culminated in a vibrant valedictory programme on December 18 at Zenamyi village in Senapati district, Manipur.

The event was graced by Director of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, Armstrong Pame, as the special guest, alongside Koheuteung Chuilo Hau, chairman of the Zeme Literature Board (Northeast India), as the guest of honour.

The Zeme Olympics, a unique convergence of Zeme villages from Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland, showcased sportsmanship and cultural heritage through various sports and traditional games. This year’s edition witnessed the participation of 64 contingents competing across disciplines.
In men’s football, Jalukie Town emerged victorious, retaining their championship title by defeating Mandeu in a thrilling final. The champions were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1.5 lakh, while the runners-up received Rs. 75,000.

Peletkie village claimed the men’s volleyball championship by defeating defending champions Mbaupunggwa village. In the women’s volleyball category, team Peren secured the championship, with team Nsong taking the runner-up position.
Among the highlights was the Battle of Horn, where a representative from team Mbaupunggwa clinched the champion medal. A playful tug-of-war between fans of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo saw Ronaldo fans claiming victory, humorously declaring Cristiano Ronaldo as the “GOAT.” A five-gun salute commemorated the Zeme Olympic Association’s five-year journey since its inception in 2019.

The final volleyball matches, for both men and women, were attended by Namketeung Newme, Divisional Forest Officer (Rtd) and president of the Zeme Council Assam, who was present as a special guest.
Delivering his address, special guest Armstrong Pame lauded the initiative, describing the Olympics as a stepping stone toward producing world-class athletes from the Zeme Naga community.

Highlighting the potential of the youth, he introduced 15-year-old Mariale Pame from Impa village, a bronze medallist in the 52-kilogram weight category at the recently concluded Open Talent Hunt in Haryana, representing Manipur State. Pame encouraged young athletes to pursue professional excellence and assured his continued support in promoting sports within the community.

Guest of honour Koheuteung Chuilo Hau emphasized the importance of fostering a unified Zeme identity through a shared literature and language. He introduced efforts to develop a common language for adoption in schools, churches, and community organizations across the Northern and Southern Zeme regions of Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland.
Both the special guest and guest of honour jointly inaugurated the final football match, marking the conclusion of the 2nd Zeme Olympics.