KOLKATA: Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra on Wednesday stated that the IOA “was willing” to hold the 2022 National Games in West Bengal, while confessing that it was more intent than confirmation at this stage.
“Definitely, in principle, we have agreed for 2022. But it’s an ongoing process. We will take it forward accordingly. 100 percent we are willing to come to Bengal. Let’s be positive,” PTI quotes Batra as having said.
The 36th National Games, which has been postponed several times, is finally slated to be held in Goa between October 20 and November 4.
Batra strongly advocated that the National Games should be held every two years and said Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya have already bid for the next editions after Goa.
“I’m being sacrosanct on 2022 and I’ll be sending you letters on that. Bengal had hosted the National Games way back in 1938 and 1964. It’s high time that National Games come to Bengal again,” he said during a felicitation ceremony by the Bengal Olympic Association here at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.
“We have also discussed in getting more International events here. Bengal are one of the pro-active states and it would be really nice if many International events come here,” PTI further quoted him as having said.
