the goan I network
PANAJI
After struggling for years to complete sports infrastructure and overrunning deadlines which prompted multiple postponements, Goa’s tryst with the controversial 36th edition of the National Games could again be jinxed and force another deferment from its October 20 to November 4 schedule, owing to the uncertainty and chaos unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Chief Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar on Monday expressed his first concerns over the impact the pandemic will have on Goa’s preparations to finally host the Games in October-November.
The Games were originally slated to be hosted by Goa way back in 2012.
“Coronavirus may affect the National Games. Let’s see how long it exists,” Ajgaonkar, who also holds the Sports portfolio told journalists on Monday.
Goa has drawn flak from the country’s sports fraternity as well as the national governing body -- Indian Olympic Association (IOA) -- for its past unpreparedness in terms of games infrastructure.
Several delays and postponement of this edition of the Games, which is virtually a national level miniature of the Olympics, has seen unprecedented acrimony between the State government and the IOA.
The Goa Olympic Association (GOA) the IOA-affiliate in Goa under who’s aegis the Games are symbolically hosted, was even slapped a whopping Rs 10-crore fine for the multiple delays last year.
The previous (35th) edition of the National Games was held way back in 2011 in Jharkhand and Goa overran the last deadline of November 2018 when it was unable to complete any of its new stadiums or the old ones it took up for upgradation to meet the international standards necessary to host the Games.
The year-long indisposition of former chief minister the late Manohar Parrikar in 2018-19 didn’t help Goa’s cause and the IOA eventually settled for a new schedule in April-May 2019. However, again at the eleventh hour, Goa informed the IOA it was unable to host the Games and proffered the clash with 2019 General elections as an excuse for seeking another postponement.
It was then that the IOA slapped a fine of Rs 10-crore on Goa but the State government has requested the National sports body that the fine be waived.
The Games hold competition among the eight top national teams in 37 different Olympic disciplines. Goa as a team is permitted to enter as a host team even in disciplines it does not qualify.
