Kerala to host 2010 National Games

{image-national games_07112008.jpeg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Nov 7: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi today signed a MoU with the Sports Minister of Kerala Vijay Kumar for hosting the National Games in 2010.

Kerala now becomes the third southern state with Karnataka and Andra Pradesh having already hosted the National Games before. Incidentally, ice-skating has been included as part of the National Games and Kerala will have the chance of hosting the discipline for the first time in 2010. As per the MoU, Kerala is expected to raise infrastructure by March 2010 in three important places of Kerala-Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Calicut - before conducting the Games later that year.

''This opportunity of hosting the Games will provide Kerala to come up on the national scene in a big way once again,'' Kalmadi said.

He also spoke on the importance of improving infrastructure in the country and standards of athletes in Olympic sport, particularly after our showing in the Olympics in Beijing early this year.

''Another novelty at the Games will be the ice-skating. We have included it as part of our National Games after the AGM in Pune approved this,'' he said.

''In Pune, we showcased ourselves with 33 gold medals and we should try and improve the tally in 2010 at New Delhi Commonwealth Games. Towards that these National Games will help identify talent in a big way besides providing the launch pad for athletes,'' he added.

Jharkhand will host the Games in 2009 while Goa will host the Games in 2011.

UNI