National Games postponed due to elections

Citing the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, the Indian Olympic Association on Thursday, postponed the 34th National Games for the fifth time in two years.

The decision to postpone the National Games, scheduled to be held from November 21 to December 5, was taken by the IOA in its Executive Committee Meeting on Wednesday.

"After talks with Union Government it has been decided to postpone the National Games till after the Jharkhand Assembly elections," IOA President Suresh Kalmadi told reporters.

Kalmadi said no new dates have been decided for the Games but made it clear that the state's preparedness was not the reason behind the event's postponement.

"It (the postponement) is not because of infrastructure, top class infrastructure is ready. We decided to postpone it because election announcement is due any time," he said.

Asked about the fate of the National Games in Kerala next year, Kalmadi said, "We have just taken this decision. We will sit again and decide the new dates of the National Games in Jharkhand as well as when to have the National Games in Kerala."

The National Games in Jharkhand, originally scheduled to be held in 2007, have been postponed four times in the past because of tardy pace of construction of infrastructure and other facilities.