India is set to host the sixth edition of Asian Beach Games in 2020 in Maharashtra subject to government approval, the Indian Olympic association said today after its executive council meeting here.
The Asian Beach Games, to be held under the aegis of Olympic Council of Asia, is considered as the second largest multi-sport event in the continent after the Asian Games.
Vietnam hosted the 5th edition in Da Nang this year with more than 2000 athletes from 41 Asian countries competing in 14 sports.
"The IOA Executive Council approved in principle to go to the Government to host the next Asian Beach Games (2020) in Maharashtra. We need approval from the central and state government (for funds). The Beach Games will be held once in four years from now on and not once in two years as earlier," IOA President N Ramachandran told reporters after the meeting.
IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said that the exact date and venue in Maharashtra will be announced later after consultation with the OCA.
"The date of the Games and which city/venue will host the Games will be decided later in consultation with the OCA," Mehta said.
It's learnt that Goa was earlier in the frame as a host state but it was dropped later given the problems it's facing regarding holding of the next edition of the National Games.
Ramachandran made it clear that the term of the current office bearers of the IOA will run for full four years till 2018 as per the Olympic Charter. He said the International Olympic Committee and the OCA have clarified that the term will be from February 2014 to February 2018.
"In March 2014, the IOC wrote to me stating very clearly that the election was for a term of four years. However, some people had raised questions and said that the term is up to 2016 only," he said.
"I then sent both the letters back to IOC and OCA and sought their views. They have clearly stated that the term is from Feb 2014 to Feb 2018 as per the new constitution of IOA and as per Olympic Charter. We are a member of IOC and we follow their guidelines. Nowhere in the IOA Constitution does it say elections must be held in the Olympic year," he added.
The current dispensation under Ramachandran took charge in 2014 after the IOC revoked its suspension of the IOA in February that year. The IOA was suspended by the IOC in December 2012.
On the status of the National Games, Ramachandran said
for all practical purposes Goa will not host the 36th edition and the Games which could be alloted to Chhattisgarh for next year.
"A team which visited Chhattisgarh reported that 50 to 60 per cent infrastructure was ready. Possibly the dates could be in 2017," he said.
The IOA had earlier alloted Goa to host the 36th National Games in 2016, 37th edition to Chhattisgarh in 2017 and 38th edition to Uttarakhand in 2018.
Goa has been facing issues relating to infrastructure building and funding and the IOA has several times served ultimatum to the state whether it wants to host the Games or not.
The EC meeting also held detailed discussion on the Niti Ayog directive advising the National Sports Federations to get themselves registered with NGO-PS Portal to receive grants.
"There were two issues involved. One is that the IOA will then become an NGO and other is for administrative procedure the government wants the registration to be done. They are differentiating the two.
"While the IOA will tell the NSFs to register because otherwise their funds will stop, simultaneously we will take up the case with the government. IOA will write to the government that we will get registered under the Registration of Societies Act but should not be considered as an NGO. That is the view we have taken today."
On the legal issues among factions in several NSFs and making IOA as a respondent, Ramachandran said, "If there were internal disputes, the issue should first come to IOA for sorting out rather than anyone rushing to the court at the drop of a hat. Once IOA takes a view then that was it."
"All this involved spending a lot of money and time. We took a decision to advice all the NSFs that if they have issues they would have to go by IOA Constitution, otherwise IOA will decide how best to take action against them.
"The issues were mostly between individuals and the net effect was that the players suffered and this should not happen."
Referring to the disputes in federations/associations, in particular in gymnastics, boxing and basketball, Ramachandran said, "The EC decided to sit down with each of the opposing groups in each NSF and try to patch up differences. In this connection, it was decided to form a panel comprising senior officials Virendra Nanavati, Rajeev Mehta and Anil Khanna. They will meet the groups and present a report to the IOA."
"We hope to resolve the issues," he said.
