The 36th National Games which were scheduled to be held in November 2017 may not be held this year due to code of conduct imposed by the government for the assembly elections and upcoming panchayat elections in May. Besides, the Sports Authority of Goa has to complete some additional structures for new disciplines like Bowling introduced by the Indian Olympic Association for the last three National Game. 

 “November 2017 is virtually not possible. We are planning the Games in February 2018 or may be later.  Question is about raising the leftover infrastructure, provision of funds, organisational cost, medals, overlaying etc”, SAG executive director V M Prabhudesai said.

“The IOA in a letter has asked to construct a Bowling centre. We are in process of constructing the same for which the process may be delayed”, he added.

It may be recalled that in 2008, Goa Government had won the bid to host the 36th edition of National Games which was supposed to be held in the year 2011. However, the same was rescheduled in 2016 but Goa government officially sought postponement due to possibility of an early Assembly Elections and requested IOA to defer the Games to a later date.

In November 2016, the state government has told the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that they will be ready to host the National Games in November next year.

 “Every Federation is trying to see that the sport is included as a result the list has gone to about 40. We also need temporary structures for beach volleyball, beach handball, beach kabaddi, rowing, canoeing, sailing, yatching etc”, Prabhudesai added.

“The Indian Olympic Association has given a list of games that are included in the National Games. Hence we need to make provisions for the same”, Prabhudesai concluded

The disciplines to be included in the National Games are archery, aquatics, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, beach handball, beach volleyball, boxing, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, fencing, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, netball, rowing, shooting, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, yachting, bowling and rugby.

According to sources, the Sports Ministry has estimated the cost of hosting the games at Rs 900 crores. Out of Rs 900 crore, the Sports Authority of Goa has already spent Rs 330 for infrastructure of Lusofonia Games which will be utilised for National Games. The others include costs for organising Games (Rs 180 crore)  and the expenditure for games village (Rs 150 crore).

A majority of the funds will have to be from the State government. The central government has already given Rs 97 crore as assistance, while Goa has requested for an additional amount.

In a latest development on Friday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in his budget allocation has allotted Rs 105 crores for the National Games.