Panaji, Jan 30 (UNI) The 36th National Games, which were to be held in Goa in March this year, have been postponed as Goa Government has expressed its inability to hold the event during the period keeping in view Lok Sabha elections and state board examinations.
Speaking to reporters at the Assembly Complex at Porvorim, near the city, on Tuesday after meeting Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Games Technical Coordination Committee Chairman Mukesh Kumar said, 'CM had called us for discussion on the national games. We in fact met the sports minister and chief secretary also. The state government has told us that there are some problems like there is election during the period when we have decided to hold national games. So we discussed all the possibilities as there will be exams also during that period and there will be problem of volunteers also. So we have decided that it will be postponed for some period.'
When asked about infrastructure in the state for holding the national games, he said infrastructure was not a problem work on two stadiums in the state was underway and should be over by the end of February or beginning of March 2019.
'Infrastructure is not a big problem because work on two stadiums is going on and I think it will be completed by February end or March second week. So that's not a big problem.'
On the fine to be imposed on Goa Government, he said that decision would be taken by the President and Secretary of the Indian Olympic Association.
'Right now I cannot say anything on this as it is a decision between Indian Olympic Association and the Goa Government,' he said.
Mr Kumar said the dates for the games had been decided as the matter would have to be discussed.
'We will have to re-change. Because we have already changed it twice. Last year we had to change it. The dates were in November then we changed it to March-April. And now again we will have to consider it to postpone it. The dates have not been finalised as I have to go back and discuss the mater with the President and the Secretary of the Indian Olympic Association. We have check with the international calendar as well because there is Olympic Qualification which is starting in July onwards,' he said.
UNI AKM 1009