MUMBAI: If there is one thing predictable about whichever state is awarded hosting rights for what is notionally the country’s most prestigious national multi-discipline event, it is that they are NEVER held within the timeslines originally announced. The only unpredictable part is how many times said timelines will be shifted.
Take the case of Goa, which has taken the notion of delays far into the realms of the ridiculous. It bears noting that Goa originally signed the host city contract in 2008 to host the National Games in 2011. But with delays in staging the previous editions, Goa’s turn finally came only after Kerala hosted the Games in January 2015. That was seven-plus years ago and counting.
The Indian Olympics Association (IOA) had asked the Goa government to host the National Games between September 6 and 16 but the Goa Sports Minister Govind Gaude last week said the coastal state will be ready to host the National Games in December.
The minister said infrastructure facilities for hosting the multi-disciplinary sports extravaganza were ready in Goa, but they need final touches.
Gaude said due to incessant rains in the state and 45-day period required for completing the formalities, Goa will not be able to host the games before November-December.
The minister said if the sporting event does not come to Goa in 2022, the state will host it next year.
Gaude said the coastal state is already getting ready to host international events like the Women’s Football World Cup and the Asian Beach Games.
“We will be using the existing sports infrastructure to host these events,” he said.
Which begs the question. Why not scrap the National Games altogether? More so since the various iterations of the Khelo India Games more than make up for the multiple deficiencies that have long been long associated with the National Games.
