Goa continues National Games preparation with October 20 as target date

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The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the entire world to a standstill. Sporting events across the world has been suspended, postponed or outright cancelled. While events like Tokyo Olympics will now be held in 2021, the Indian state of Goa, in charge of hosting the National Games this year, has expressed interesting in advancing preparations for the event despite the obvious problems.

The hosting of the games is still uncertain, but J Ashok Kumar, CEO of National Games, has decided to continue the preparations in case the situation clears up and the games does happen.

“I write to you on the backdrop of a global pandemic that has not only affected the health and lifestyle of our populace, but has also affected the lives, livelihood of our economy. The situation is unprecedented and unusual with no definite horizon in sight that can predict the end of this pandemic. Likewise, the pandemic has also had an adverse effect on the global sports scenario resulting n postponing all major events, including Tokyo Olympics,” Kumar wrote in a letter to Indian Olympic Association (IOC) secretary Rajeev Mehta.

“The hosting of the National Games had come up for discussion with authorities and it has been internally decided to proceed with all required arrangements till May 31, 2020, post which, after assessing the Covid-19 situation at that point in time, and in consultation with IOA, a suitable decision could be arrived on the conduct of the National Games, for which the assured participation by the qualified teams will be the single most important factor,” Kumar continued in his letter.

Although successful hosting of the games seem unlikely, Kumar says that the “government of Goa and organising committee is working alongside to attend to all National Games related matters with the commitment it deserves.”

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