The State government has not requested the IOA to postpone the 36th edition of National Games that Goa is scheduled to host between March and April. But indirectly it has. Otherwise how does the government explain its letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which cited the Lok Sabha elections and summer exam schedules as impediments to the Games scheduled between March and April.
It would be only foolish to assume that Goa doesn’t want another postponement. And we understand how embarrassing it would be to seek another date in view of the fact that the State remained uncertain since November 2016, a date originally scheduled for the 36th edition in Goa. It’s been a story of missed deadlines since then.
Agreed that work has been going on at a hectic pace at the three new venues -- Campal, Navelim and Pernem besides the renovation and upgradation work at Ponda and Fatorda. But despite the urgency shown on the ground, it is very unlikely that the State could be up and ready for the games in another two months’ time. It sounds stupid when the government uses the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls and summer examinations as roadblocks.
Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar being a seasoned politician should have factored in the timing of the Lok Sabha better than anyone else in the department. When the government speaks of its inability to use its machinery for the games because of the election it gives a clear indication that it is averse to going ahead. Furthermore, holding of examinations in March-April is an annual exercise and is not newly introduced. Both these events should have been factored in long back when Goa sought a deferment last year. One can hazard a guess on what could follow next. The monsoon is most likely to push the date beyond September 2019.
If the government was unsure about hosting the games, either due to lack of will or for any other reasons best known to Ajgaonkar, why is it that works were undertaken in such haste and statements released that the State is on track? Haphazard completion of work will complicate matters for the State in the long run as government will be forced to spend huge chunks of the tax-payers’ money for maintenance. Moreover, forgoing the Games at this juncture due to inordinate delays could also be disastrous since monies have already been spent.
While Goa is not yet ready with its infrastructure, one wonders the level of preparedness of the Goa contingent to compete against top athletes across the nation. The National Games is a premier sporting event of the country involving 30 disciplines and there will be immense pressure on the home team to perform.
