Nationals Games to be held at Guwahati in February

New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) The much delayed National Games will be held in Guwahati (Assam) from February 9 to 18 next year.

''The State government and the Assam Olympic Association (AOA) wanted to stage the Nationals in October this year but due to SAF and Asian Games, it has been decided to host the event in February 2007,'' Indian Olympic Association(IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi said here this afternoon.

''We don't want to risk injuries to our athletes befor the Doha Asian Games, which is in December, and so decided to host the National Games in February. Besides, there are chances of rain in October,'' he reasoned.

The Games were earlier scheduled to be held in 2006 but were deferred for various reasons and IOA decided to impose a penalty of Rs one crore on the AOA for not holding the Games on time.

Asked if the IOA will insist on realising the fine, Mr Kalmadi said the excecutive board of the IOA, which met here earlier today, has left the decision to him.

''I have been authorised to take the matter with Assam Chief Minister and decide on the issue,'' he said.

The IOA chief also asserted that after Guwahati, the next Games will be held on schedule in Jharkhand in early 2008.

''The preprations are going on in full steam there (Jharkhand) and we are confident that there will be no more delays,'' he said.

He, however, made it clear that 2009 Games will not be held in Lucknow.

''The decision in this regard has already been taken by the Genneral Council of the IOA six months back. The venue for the 2009 Games will be decided in the next General Assembly meeting in November,'' Mr Kalmadi said.

He said there is no possibility of IOA reviewing its decision of not holding the Games in 2009.

''We are looking for new venue. There is no chance that Uttar Pradesh will host the Games,'' he said.

The IOA decision not to hold the Games in Lucknow was in protest against Uttar Pradesh Government's controversial decision to bring legislation to control various sports bodies in the state.

''We stand by the decision,'' Mr Kalmadi added.

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