North East News Agency

As the Assam Government failed to fulfill its commitment, National Games has now been postponed till October 2006. Ironically, the decision to defer the games came on the day which would have been the opening day of the games if the State Government adhered to the    original schedule of November 12-22.

President of the Indian Olympic Association (AOA) Suresh Kalmadi recently visited the venues and opined that it would not be possible to host the event before October 2006. Mr. Kalmadi announced that the Games will tentatively be held from October 12 to 22 next year. IOA president hoped that the leading sportspersons of the country would get proper practice for the Doha Asian Games, scheduled to be held in December next year in the 33rd National Games.

Meanwhile, Asom Gana Parishad has alleged large-scale corruption and termed it as the reason behind the postponement. The party has demanded a high-level probe into the entire episode.

“Tarun Gogoi being the Chief Minister and also the Assam Olympic Association (AOA) president should have been able to ensure timely completion of the infrastructures. But instead, he kept on indulging in nonsensical rhetoric, misleading the people,” AGP president Brindaban Goswami said.

Earlier Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reiterated on many occasions that the 33rd National Games would be held in January next year. Minister of    State for Planning and Development, Himanta Biswa Sharma too made      a similar claim recently. But the ground reality from the very beginning was telling a different story.

The State Government was desperate to host the games in January 2006, before Model Code of Conduct comes into force in the election bound State. Assam goes to polls by April next year. But there were very little chances that infrastructure development works being completed before the games. The State Government has not even opened the Letter of Credit (LOC) accounts necessary to purchase imported Astroturf, synthetic tracks, maple wood flooring materials, video matrix score board, etc. Still the State Government is claiming to complete all preparations by December. The time required to install synthetic surfaces like tracks and Astroturf, as quoted by the bidders is at least 21 weeks from the date of order. Experts, however, say that it takes not less than six months. The files relating to purchase of synthetic surfaces have been gathering dust for more than two and a half years.

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