“We have already started the work on the National Games and I am glad to inform that we are on schedule,”
Ramesh Tawadkar,Sports Minister
The Goan Network
PANAJI
Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar on Wednesday informed that the State has started the work to host the National Games 2016 and it is going on as per the schedule.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function at Secretariat, Porvorim, Tawadkar said, “We have already started the work on the National Games and I am glad to inform that we are on schedule.”
The National Games 2016 are scheduled to be held from November 5 to 19. While the infrastructure created for Lusofonia Games will also be used for hosting National Games, a few new facilities will also come up in various parts across the State. These include kabaddi and kho-kho facilities at Poinguinim, Canacona; gymnastics at Navelim Sports Complex; kabaddi and handball at Sawalwada Sports Complex, among others.
“The work on two stadiums, one in Poinguinim, Canacona and in Navelim, is likely to start in another month or so. The stadium in Poinguinim will be developed mainly for games like kho-kho and kabaddi," he informed.
For developing this infrastructure, he said, the State will require nearly Rs 300 crore and they have already written to the Centre to sanction grants for the same.
“We have asked the Centre to sanction nearly Rs 300 crore so that we can create the required infrastructure for hosting the National Games. Earlier, the Centre had passed on to Goa Rs 100 crore,” said Tawadkar.
The State has already written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that it is ready to host the 36th National Games 2016.
