the goan I network
PANAJI
Finally after years of delay and acrimonious rounds of exchanges, the Goa government and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have come to a deal -- the 36th National Games will indeed be held in Goa in October next year.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar, the IOA has officially communicated the decision to accept the latest October 2020 dates.
Ajgaonkar said, IOA took the decisions after a meeting between officials of the Goa government and the Olympic body.
According to the minister, IOA has informed that Games will be held from October 20 to November 4 in Goa.
“We are happy with the development,” the minister said, adding that the State will now get the much needed time carry out the tendering process and complete whatever balance work which needs to be carried out to be ready to host the event.
Originally slated to be hosted in 2015, Goa had on several occasions failed to meet past deadlines for completion of the sports infrastructure needed to host the Games.
The last scheduled date was November this year, but the State government had written to the IOA for an extension to May 2020, citing the conduct of the General Elections as an impediment to get venues ready due to the Code of Conduct.
In March this year, the State government and the IOA had also clashed over the latter’s decision to slap a Rs 10-crore fine on Goa for failing to meet the November deadline. Ajgaonkar, however, did not clarify whether the IOA had decided to waive off the penalty.
