The Indian Olympic Association ( IOA ) has formed a three-member committee to hold talks with high-ranking officials from Goa before deciding on the dates for the 36th edition of National Games The oft-postponed National Games were scheduled to be held in Goa from March 30 but the state government put their hands up, claiming the code of conduct due to parliamentary elections would mean several restrictions. Goa suggested fresh dates in October and November but the IOA executive committee which met in Delhi on Tuesday was not convinced.“The committee will hold talks with our officials and finalise the dates. The Games will be held in Goa surely. We will find an amicable solution,” said Goa Olympic Association (GOA) secretary general Gurudutta Bhakta. The three-member IOA committee includes president Narendra Batra, secretary Rajeev Mehta and games technical conduct committee chairman, Mukesh Kumar Bhakta is Goa’s lone representative at the IOA executive committee and he had a tough time convincing the members to waive off the Rs 10 crore fine already imposed for several delays.“My argument is that you cannot impose a penalty on a state which is investing almost Rs 750 crore on building infrastructure and conducting the National Games. You can argue that states prior to Goa have been fined as well but a fine is not acceptable to us,” said Bhakta. Jharkhand and Assam were understood to have been fined as well.Chief secretary Parimal Rai and secretary (sports) J Ashok Kumar are likely to hold talks with the IOA within the next 10 days before finalising the dates.There was criticism of Goa from many members after the state failed to stay true to its promises made at previous IOA executive committee meetings with misleading presentations. Goa had assured to complete all infrastructure before March but another presentation showed that several projects remained incomplete. The tennis court at Fatorda, Indoor stadium at Pernem and squash court at Chicalim have not even reached the half-way stage of completion.Goa signed the host city contract with IOA in 2008 and was scheduled to host the Games in 2011.

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