Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati on Friday, amid complaints from the participating teams of not being provided proper facilities. According to reports, the biggest problem stems from the lack of a proper Games Village, which means athletes have been accommodated in various hotels across the city.

The Indian Express reported that over 100 Pakistani sportspersons had been accommodated in eight different hotels, while Afghanistan's 49-member delegation were housed in four hotels. A group of officials from Nepal reportedly had to spend a night in the function hall of a hotel, which was converted into a dormitory. More embarrassingly, the venue for the football competition, the Nehru Stadium, was shifted at the last minute because the playing turf was not ready.

Union sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi were also present at the inauguration ceremony of the Games, which Guwahati is co-hosting with Shillong. Eight nations and over 2,000 athletes are slated to compete in 228 events across 23 sports. The nations participating in the tournament are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan.