Asom not ready for National games: AOA

Guwahati, Jan 23 (UNI) The Asom Olympic Association (AOA), the host of the 33rd National Games today admitted that the infrastructure for organising the Games was yet not ready.

''With just 16 days more for the opening ceremony, equipment for ten disciplines have not yet arrived'' the AOA General Secretary Mukut Medhi said while addressing a news conference here today.

Admitting the complete chaos in the organising committees, Mr Medhi said, ''As a signatory of the MOU which brought the games to Asom, I want the games to be successful. It is our pride. But the fact remains that we are far from ready.'' Regarding the ULFA threat looming large over the Games, he said, ''Not many players from the various state would participate in the games this year.

IOA officials have bombarded me with questions. They sought guarantee that the militants would touch not a single athlete. I said I can not give that guarantee, because I myself is under threat and move around with security only'' he said.

Though the government had talked about huge security measures to protect the athletes but still the parents of the athletes as well as sports federations had not yet booked their tickets, sources added.

The Asom Olympic Association (AOA) today appealed to ULFA to lift the boycott call addying that AOA is organizing the event not Asom Government. ''Government is only facilitator and AOA has actually signed the Games so ULFA should desist from threatening the Games'' he said.

Mr Medhi admitted that player from across the country were worried and were waiting for the situation to improve.

He also informed that basic equipment of basketball, net ball, lawn ball, Sepak takraw and Taekwondo had not yet arrived.

UNI