Work at the 30-odd National Games venues across the state is progressing at varying speeds, but in the end, everything bounces back to the question ‘when?’ The reality is, no one can say with any degree of conviction as to when the much-awaited 35th edition will actually take place.
The Kerala Government had informed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of its readiness to conduct the Games from February 21 to March 5, with a rider that four months would be required from the date of announcement. If the games were to be held as per the schedule offered by Kerala, the official announcement should have come on October 21. That did not happen, largely due to the fact that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) slapped a ban on the IOA.
Fresh IOA elections are expected in December, but there are other factors that add to the uncertainty, despite a February schedule doing the rounds. ‘’Our stand is that we need four months from the date of announcement, whenever that is,’’ said Anil Kumar, co-ordinator of the 35th National Games.
In reality, 2014 will be a touch-and-go year for the National Games, if at all they are held. Peak tourism season up to March in Kerala means hotel bookings for the guests will prove a problem. The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for 2014, most likely in March. Then comes two events that will see all the top names in Indian sports tied up for months. The 20th Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in July and the Asian Games in September. Additionally, the monsoons too will have a say in the matter.
Meanwhile, the National Games Secretariat here is moving ahead with matters such as infrastructure development at venues and procurement of equipment.
As per the latest progress report on infrastructure works, work is nearly complete at two venues in Thiruvananthapuram district - the handball and gymnastics venues at Jimmy George Indoor Stadium and taekwondo and netball venues at Vellayani - 70 per cent of the work is over at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium and the Corporation Stadium in Thrissur.
Thiruvananthapuram has 12 venues for the event, in addition to the Games Village. Recently, the state government had kicked off work on the Games Village at Menamkulam, near Kazhakkoottam.
VENUES AND EVENTS IN T’PURAM AND PROGRESS OF WORK
* Sreepadam Stadium, Attingal: Kho-Kho, Kabaddi (Work in progress)
* Kumarapuram: Tennis (30 per cent over)
* University Stadium: Athletics (Tender finalised)
* Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium: Squash, Kalaripayattu, Cycle Polo (70 per cent over)
* Vattiyoorkavu: Shooting (Work restarted - 50 per cent over)
* Mookkunnimala (Army Shooting Range): Trap and skeet shooting (Army sanction not received)
* Pirappancode: Aquatics (Work in progress)
* Jimmy George Indoor Stadium: Gymnastics, Handball (Nearly complete)
* Agriculture College Stadium, Vellayani: Taekwondo, Netball (Nearly complete)
* GV Raja Stadium: Wushu (Completed)
* LNCPE, Kariavattom: Cycling (Work undertaken by SAI)
Also Read