GOA GOVT'S WRITTEN
EXPLANATION TO THE
INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSN
1)
If the LS poll schedule clash, deployment of police force and other State government personnel for duties may impede the smooth conduct of the National Games2)
Goa administration's pre-occupation with Lok Sabha election work which will take precedence, the March-April schedule for National Games will be impractical------------------------------------------------------------
The prerogative to hold the Games on schedule, ie March 30 to April 14, or to postpone it by a few months, is solely that of the IOA-------------------------------------------------------------
- Babu Ajgaonkar
PANAJI: Yet another postponement, albeit for a few months, is on the cards for the already multiple times re-scheduled 36th edition of the National Games which was to be hosted by Goa from March 30 to April 14 this year.
The Goa government has written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) explaining the impracticality of the March-April schedule for the games, citing various examination schedules and the likely clash of the impending Lok Sabha elections.
The Goa government, which is also racing against time to complete infrastructural works at three new sports facilities in Campal, Navelim and Pernem for the Games besides upgrading sports facilities in Ponda and Fatorda, has however stopped short of formally requesting the IOA to postpone the National Games.
The Goa government's communique to the IOA cites the possible unavailability of the student community due to exams which will make it difficult to meet the requirement of a nearly 4,000-strong volunteer force.
If the schedule of the impending Lok Sabha elections clash, the deployment of the police force and other State government personnel for election-related arrangements and law-and-order duties may impede the smooth conduct of the National Games during its current March-April schedule, the State has communicated to the IOA.
It has also said that with over 10,000 outstation people including athletes, officials and media personnel expected to participate in the Games, the Goa administration's pre-occupation with Lok Sabha election work which will take precedence, the March-April schedule will be impractical.
Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar, meanwhile, told The Goan when contacted that the State government has not requested the IOA to postpone the National Games.
"However, we have written to the body giving a report of what we forsee will be the ground realities in March-April given the examination schedules and the likely clash of the General Election dates," Ajgaonkar said.
"The prerogative to hold the Games on schedule, i.e. March 30 to April 14, or to postpone it by a few months, is solely that of the IOA," Ajgaonkar said.
The National Games, organized by the IOA in association with the Olympic Association of the host State, is the country's most prestigious sports meet and involves competition between top eight (plus the host State team if not figuring among the top eight) State teams in some 30 Olympic disciplines.
Originally slated to be held in 2011 when the then Digamber Kamat government signed the MoU with the IOA, it was first postponed because the previous edition had not yet taken place.
The 35th edition was finally conducted in Kerala in January-February 2015 and the first firm date for it to be hosted in Goa was fixed for 2017. Since then, the Games have been deferred twice and the last time the IOA re-scheduled it for March-April this year, it had warned of invoking the punitive clause which provides for imposing a fine on the GOA for delay.
Now with Goa citing the Lok Sabha polls, sources said, the IOA will be left with no other option than to tweak the schedule and move it forward by a few months beyond the monsoon which is severe in Goa.
