The jinx over hosting the National Games continued to dog Goa.
Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju announced in Parliament that the National Games which were slated to be held in Goa in November this year have been "postponed indefinitely".
The 36th edition of the National Games scheduled for October-November in Goa, are postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rijiju said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Goa's bid to host the National Games, the most prestigious national level sport competition styled along the lines of the Olympics, has faced multiple controversies and delays.
The two sides -- Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Goa government -- which entered into a formal agreement for hosting the games have often wrangled over the latter failing to get infrastructure ready.
In fact the IOA had even slapped a Rs 10-crore fine for Goa's delay in completing all the infrastructure work and being ready in time.
The Centre, meanwhile released Rs 97.80 crore to the Goa government for creation / development of sports infrastructure for the 36th National Games, Rijiju also informed Lok Sabha in a written reply on Thursday.
