the goan I network
PANAJI
The fate of the already multiple times postponed 36th edition of the National Games is expected to be decided in the next few days after a fact-finding team of the Indian Olympic Association arrives in Goa to hold discussions with the administration and also to inspect the progress of work on facilities where the competition is slated to be conducted.
The team is expected to arrive by Monday or Tuesday next week, a top official of the Sports Authority of Goa said.
As of now, the Games are scheduled to be held from March 30 to April 14 this year. However, the State government has already written to the IOA the unsuitability of these dates owing to the possible clash in schedules of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the examination season.
In the letter to the IOA, Goa’s Sports Secretary has conveyed that with students likely to be engaged with exams, difficulties could crop up in arranging the nearly 6,000 strong volunteer force needed to shoulder the various hands-on tasks in the organisation of the games.
The letter also raises issues of the police and other departments of the State administration being engaged with law-and-order and other arrangements related to the General Elections expected to be scheduled around the same time the Games are to be held.
Although officials claim that preparations, including building infrastructure are on course and purchase of equipment is in progress, work on a couple of stadia including the indoor stadium at Campal and the tennis courts at Fatorda has fallen behind schedule.
