National Games to be delayed

The National Games in Assam, supposed to be held this month, are likely to be delayed for at least ten months. However, the organising committee is maintaining that the Games would be held by April, 2006.

The Joint Secretary of the Assam Olympic Association, Mukut Medhi, in an exclusive chat with rediff.com this week, held the present leadership of the organising committee "totally responsible" for the inordinate delay in holding the National Games as per schedule in Assam, this year.

Medhi alleged that initially he and his colleagues, besides the in-charge of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) sub-centre, Guwahati Subhash Basumatary, were actively involved with the organizing activities and other related matter.

But they were eventually sidelined and now only a few individuals with "a dubious background" are handling the show. As per the official rule, Assam Olympic Association is supposed to organise the National Games. Medhi disclosed that he has already referred the developments to the president of the Indian Olympic committee, Suresh Kalmadi for necessary action.
 
Medhi further revealed that a budget of nearly Rs 250 crores was made availablefor holding the games. But, the committee is yet to place order for buying equipments for running track, gymnast floor and other events. Significantly, all these equipments have to be exported from abroad. Once the order is placed, it will take at least three to four months to deliver the equipments and also to lay them on different tracks.

The Games will also have to be held before April, with the monsoon impending from the month of May.

All the national players will also remain busy September onwards, following their commitments in international events including Asian games. So, if the organizers fail to hold the games before April, 2006, the National Games may get delayed for a year.

The last National Games were held in Hyderabad in 2002.