the goan I network
PANAJI
The National Games in Goa are likely to be postponed till February next year as the State government has sought more time from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to build infrastructure for the conduct of the 36th edition in the State.
A panel led by Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar gave a presentation to the IOA at its Executive Committee meeting on Saturday in New Delhi, seeking the postponement. After hearing the plea of the panel, which also included V M Prabhudesai, Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa, and Gurudutt Bhakta, General Secretary, Goa Olympic Association (GOA), the IOA has decided that sporting
disciplines that cannot be held due to lack of infrastructure in Goa will be
shifted to other parts of the country.
“The IOA has been very considerate towards Goa’s plea for postponement of the Games. We are certain that the Games will be moved to February next year,” Prabhudesai told The Goan after landing in Goa after attending the meeting in New Delhi. Bhakta, meanwhile, said that postponement of the Games was the most logical choice. “We are doing everything to hold the National Games on time. But we need time till February to conduct them. Goa will be ready to host the Games
by then,” the GOA official said.
Meanwhile, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, while speaking to the media after the meeting in New Delhi, said that the dates for the Goa Games are yet to be finalised because of the infrastructural delays.
Mehta said that during the Goa National Games, at least four events, namely cycling, shooting, kayaking and canoeing will not take place in the State.
While Delhi is to host shooting, Kerala will organise the rest of the three.
Mehta also said that Karnataka may host hockey and tennis events of the National Games.
The National Games in Goa were tentatively scheduled to be held from November 4 to 18 and the IOA was keen to hold the event this year. “We want to hold the National Games in 2018. Otherwise, it could delay the conduct of the future Games in Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya,” IOA president Narinder Batra told the media.
Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya have been allotted the National Games in 2019, 2020 and 2022 respectively.
