Goa government has displayed a complete lack of commitment yet again on hosting the National Games. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on the floor of the House that Goa is unable to host the Games in November this year as agreed earlier. The reason this time: Goan athletes are not yet ready. The last time it was rescheduled from March on the premise of elections and government’s inability to provide the necessary security cover.
In fact, the only genuine reason why Goa had to skip the March-April 2019 date was because it failed to raise the required infrastructure in time. While this time, the reason given is unpreparedness of athletes, but for all we know that infrastructure still remains a work in progress. The question then: Why is the State going ahead with the games if it doesn’t have the will to?
The State government lacks conviction and the seriousness in the National Games is only seen in the talks of the sports minister Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar. The last time Ajgaonkar spoke about the National Games being held in Goa, he appeared confident enough and announced that the event will give an opportunity for Goa’s athletes to rub shoulders with national stars.
Pushing the blame on the India Olympic Association shows deception. When Goa forced the March-April 2019 postponement and sought a November date, it should have factored in all other aspects of the Games, leave aside the infrastructure part and the monsoon. When an extension was granted during the Manohar Parrikar era, the infrastructure upgrade was going at snail’s pace and there was no visible urgency to meet any deadline. And infrastructure continues to be a ‘work-in-progress’ even at this stage.
The entire handling of the National Games has turned out to be a farce. How can Goa come out with dates at their own fancy without factoring in the national and international calendar of athletes? Athletic federations of other participating states also need to be consulted on their schedules. This is not an inter-state tournament. The National Games is a premier sporting event and comprises various disciplines in which athletes from the different states participate. The concept of the Games is to promote the development of sports and of the Olympic movement in India.
The IOA had clearly indicated that Goa lacked commitment, and it actually shows in the way the government has gone about the job. A complete mockery is made of the sporting event by throwing a huge uncertainty over hosting. What happens to all the preparations of other athletes across the nation? These repeated changes in schedules are only jeopardizing schedules and calenders of other athletes and federations.
Goa may be looking at January 2020 as per its convenience, but the IOA will have a major job at hand since it will have to factor in the schedules of other participating State federations, besides the international sports calendar. Top national athletes will be busy preparing for the Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9, 2020.
The very essence and charm of the games will be lost if there is no participation of top athletes. After a series of delays spanning several years, a lackluster sporting event would be the last thing Goans would expect to see.
