Assam government has given a firm assurance to the Olympic Association of India to hold the forthcoming 33rd National Games under tight security to keep the banned United Liberation Front of Asom militants at bay.

An official source informed that at the meeting of the OAI in New Delhi, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday gave assurance to conduct the games smoothly under tight security cover to players and officials in view of the threat from the banned ULFA to disrupt the event.

The chief minister in fact made a powerpoint presentation before IOA officials about the arrangements and security plan for the games to be held in Guwahati for the first time from February 9-18, 2007.

The meeting was held as the OAI wanted a detailed report from the Assam government and Assam Olympic Association about the security situation prevailing in the state as well as arrangements made by the state government to hold the mega sports event.

Assam government has sought additional companies of central paramilitary forces from the Union government to augment security in and around the games village and games venues. Union Home Secretary V K Duggal is visiting the state to review security arrangements ahead of the games. The prime minister is scheduled to inaugurate the games.

The banned ULFA had called upon players to stay away from the games for their own safety. The militant group said it was opposed to holding of the 'Indian National Games' in Guwahati sans a final solution to 'Indo-Assam' political conflict.

As many government and non-government organisations as well as the state government criticised the ULFA for trying to meddle in the sports arena, the militant group took a comparatively soft stand stating that it was not going to oppose the games if the Assam government changed the name of the event to 'Asom Sports Festival'.

However, Assam government ruled out the possibility of changing the name of the games and called upon the ULFA to spare the games in the spirit of sport.