NGOC’s misconduct led the fencing event at the 34th National Games Ranchi to get delayed – Fencing News
According to the provided schedule of the 34th National Games, fencing event was to start from February 18-20, but due to the eleventh hour call for tenders concerning the supply of fencing equipment, the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC)
failed to begin the sport event on time.
The tender was silently publicised over the official website of the National Games 2011, being held in Ranchi, Jharkand on February 14.
The last date of the bid submission was February 19, with technical bids being opened at 11:30 am financial bids at 12 noon that day.
On the other end, the fencers were facing problems on practicing with worn out fencing outfits and old swords and they were assured that the new equipments will arrive by the time of the event. The Secretary General of Fencing Association of India (FAI),
Arun Kumar Vij was very confident that the equipment would be there by the February 17, but surprisingly, the tender briefs the bidders that whoever qualifies shall supply the equipments within 24 hours so that it will be available on February 21, the new
decided date for the event.
A total of 29 items were put to bid including fencing suits, masks, electric blades and jackets etc. With such short time for the tender with complicated conditions stated within, it was discouraging for the potential fencing equipment suppliers that failed
to meet the time of supply, thus, losing their chances to make business.
It was a matter of concern that such a rush purchase reflected the fact that the officials were least bothered about the cost of the equipments and were just emphasizing to end up their apprehensions. Moreover, such action depicted corruption with an objective
to elevate the procurement cost and favouring their self-selected suppliers to earn heavy profit out of it.
When the Secretary General of NGOC, SM Hashmi was contacted regarding the price matter he said, “Very less time is left (for the event to start) and we will make sure that the equipments are brought fast. It may be brought by cargo plane if need arises.
Why bother about the cost involved.”
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and its Jharkhand counterpart JOA tossed the blame at each other regarding such disregard for the event with late tender proceedings and forwarding the burden on NGOC to start them on time.
A further matter that came to surface was the ignorance towards the fact that they lacked the fencing equipment and surface installation officials for the National Games 2011 event, prior to the event.
An anonymous coach of Jharkhand Fencing Association (JFA) commented, “Our players with the help of few volunteers are installing the turf and the equipments at the venue, as no technical officials are here to assist or guide them."
It was a great grief that to overcome this discrepancy, another tender was issued the same day concerning invitation for installation of fencing equipments within 24 hours deadline, on the Games website. Both the situations were dependent on each other meaning
that the installation could only take place once the equipment reached the venue and it was not possible until the previous tenders were resolved.
The anonymous coach also disclosed the fact that the shifting of the dates for fencing competition from February 18 to February 21 had earned bad name for both the NGOC and the state’s fencing association just because nobody cared.
Such an informal behaviour from the event officials portrayed their poor strategic executions to organise the 34th National Games of India. Apparently, few other sports events like shooting and weight-lifting faced inadequacy of equipment and
damaged platforms causing embarrassment for the sports gala held in Ranchi.
Even though fencing was not a top priority for many of the spectators, but it must have been valued because it is of course an Olympic sport.
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