Kalmadi leaves midway Core Committee meeting on National Games

Ranchi: With the National Games postponed four times since 2007, eyebrows were raised on Thursday over IOA

President Suresh Kalmadi leaving midway through a high-level meeting of the Core Committee, even as the organisers said the Games would be held in December. "Kalmadi had an important engagement. I express regret on his behalf. But take the word from me, the Games will be held in Jharkhand in December. Dates will be announced within a week," A K Matoo, member of the Core Committee of the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC), told a press conference. He was asked why Kalmadi left in a huff despite invitations being sent to media houses that he would address the press conference. JOC President R K Anand had left with Kalmadi 15 minutes before the Core Committee meeting ended. Asked whether Kalmadi left because of any disagreement with the state over dates, JOC President and Chairman of the National Games Organising Committee S M Hasmi replied in the negative. Jharkhand Sports Minister Sudesh Mahto, who was also present at the joint press conference, said the state could provide complete infrastructure within 45 days from the announcement of the dates. "The government is ready. We expect an announcement on dates. We can put in place complete sporting infrastructure within 45 days of the announcement of dates," Mahto said, hinting that the state expected a date before the Commonwealth Games. Games Technical Committee Chairman J M Bali, however, said he had to look into some areas of the infrastructure before giving the go ahead to the IOA for the announcement of the dates. Union Food Processing Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said the National Games could not be held in summer and thereafter the Commonwealth Games would begin. He said Kalmadi had assured the state that the Games would be held in December this year and would not go into 2011. The National Games was postponed four times between November 2007 and November 2009 with the organisers deferring it citing unstable governments, incomplete infrastructure or the weather. PTI