The Hindu : Sport : A jinxed National Youth Games

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

A jinxed National Youth Games

Special Correspondent

Games virtually shelved for the third time
Delay in laying track for athletics

BANGALORE: As the maiden National Youth Games has virtually been shelved for the third time, the blame game has started in the Karnataka sports circle.

The Games, scheduled from July 22, has been put on hold with the State Government asking the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to re-consider the dates in view of monsoon and the state of infrastructure in the city.

The move has certainly not gone down well with neither the sports associations in the State nor the IOA, which is peeved that the Games is being again and again postponed, when it is supposed to be a selection trials for the Commonwealth Youth Games slated to be held in Pune in September.

Has the so called ‘delay’ on the part of Youth Service Department to finalise tenders, for relaying the track for athletics and hockey astro-turf led to this situation?

“No concrete decision was taken on the issue for well over a month,” said a sports official.

Without a proper synthetic track or astro-turf, it was virtually impossible to hold athletics and hockey events in Bangalore. SAI (South) Centre in Kengeri was mooted as an alternative venue for both these disciplines.

Though the Hockey Association was willing to go ahead with the plan, the Athletic Association expressed its reservation, citing lack of facilities for athletes in the arena, including toilets, change rooms and gallery for the spectators.

Denies charges

Amar Kumar Pandey, Commissioner of the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), however, denied the charges that DYSS was at fault.

He told The Hindu, “The tenders were notified in March and by April announcement for Karnataka polls had come and we had to seek Election Commission’s exemption on tenders for the Games and that took some time. At all costs, I was ready to ensure that Games go on in July. I did not foresee any major problems except that the track which needed repair for a 50 metre stretch and hockey, of course could have been held in SAI.

“But it is the government decision to seek a postponement and we abide by it and there is no use in blaming DYSS for it. More than anybody else, we have the accountability to hold the Games in a smooth manner and I personally was hurt as it was my dream to break this jinx. Let IOA give an alternative dates as sought by the Government, we would be too happy go ahead with it,” said Mr. Pandey.

The ball, once again is in IOA’s court. One wonders whether it has any interest left in the Games.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport