What is the purpose of hosting a mega sports event like the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games or even the National Games?

Four years ago in Beijing, inside their ‘Bird’s Nest’, the Chinese responded to this query by stacking up most of the gold, silver and bronze medals at stake.

It’s an accolade for which every host endures years of hardship and rigorous preparation. When crores of rupees are spent on renovating existing stadiums and building new ones, it becomes the responsibility of the host to make sure they raise their competitive standards against the best in the trade.

Bearing in mind that winning more medals forms the priority list of a host alongside building infrastructure, let us study the curious case of the 35th National Games, which Kerala will be hosting – when?

After twitching with the calendar for two years, the latest verdict is December 2013, which is also likely to change.

There are 38 sports in the National Games and more than 440 gold medals to be won. Despite boasting of an immaculate sporting tradition, Kerala could only win 30 gold in 12 different disciplines to finish 7th overall in the previous edition of the Games held in Jharkhand.

The question is -- can we, as hosts, be satisfied with a middle-of-the-table finish with a handful of medals or should we aim for the pole position with a bagful of gold medals? As the obvious answer is the latter, are we really going for it?

Discouragingly, the Kerala State Sports Council, which is supposed to provide coaches, organize training programmes and conduct events, has not yet designed a ‘game plan’ for the upcoming extravaganza.

“How can we prepare a plan without knowing the exact date of the event?” was the blunt response from sports council secretary Abdul Rassak. “We are in touch with the associations and once the dates are announced, we will do the needful,” he said.

At least nine of the sports that draws more than a couple of gold medals are not affiliated to the state sports council, one of which is a contact-sport called Wushu, derived from Chinese martial arts – it has 42 gold medals in the competition.

Kerala, for the first time ever, won the South Zone Wushu Championship last year and considering that there will only be a total of eight competitors in each of the several Wushu events, the chances of the state winning a chunk of the medals cannot be ruled out.

“To prepare for Wushu, the simplest of requirements which we have asked for is practice mats. Our request has been pending for years with the council and they do not realize that by turning their backs on this opportunity they’ll say goodbye to 42 gold medals,” said C. P. Arif, technical director of Kerala Wushu Association and also one of the only five international judges in the country.

Before the 1988 Seoul Olympics, China had spent a whopping $260 million for developing a national sports programme.

Though the most populated nation in the world could only win five gold medals that year, the system evolved and in four years they were placed fourth in the medals tally.

The Games will be held in seven cities: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.

The slow rate of construction works at these venues is a matter of concern – rightly so. But as a proud sporting state, it will be a shame if Kerala fails to concentrate on the sports angle of the National Games.

‘Most of the work is over’: Padmini

Work on stadiums are progressing on a war-footing. In most cases, 90 per cent of works is over, says Padmini Thomas, president, Kerala Sports Council.

Are the works related to the National Games progressing?

A: Almost 90 per cent of the work on all stadiums has been completed. However, in some stadiums, the work is not progressing as expected. Efforts will be made to complete the work on a war-footing. Every Tuesday, sports minister K.B.Ganesh Kumar convenes a meeting to review the progress of the work.

Are there any technical issues?

A : There are quite a few issues. For example, the Wushu association has expressed concerned over the facility arranged in Shanghumughom. Their contention is that the place lacks space for laying two mats.

Were there labour problems at the Kariavattom stadium?

A: All Problems will be settled amicably through discussions. People should understand the importance of the National Games.

Is the construction work inconveniencing the training sessions of the state’s athletes?

A: I don’t think it’s a real issue. The training too is on, alongside the construction. Certainly there are problems with some stadiums in Kozhikode and other places.

But all measures are being taken to overcome the hurdles.

Kariavattom stadium: Labour issues dim hopes

Labour problems relating to the construction of the greenfield international stadium at Kariavattom has raised doubts whether the stadium will be completed in time for the games.

A temporary solution has been found but a permanent solution will only come via the courts. The patch-up formula evolved at the meeting convened by Attingal Dy SP B. K. Prashanthan Kani on Saturday ensures that trade unions will not stall work till the court gives its verdict on the case.

Ruling and opposition trade unions have been stalling the work at the stadium site in Kariavattom because they do not want machines and certain equipment to be used for the construction work.

On June 3 they filed a case in court alleging that the machines would take away the jobs of workers.

The first stadium in the country to be developed on DBOT (Design-build-operate- transfer) basis, it is designed to seat 50,000 people.

The rough estimate of the project is Rs 161 crore. There will be 25 corporate suites and two VIP pavilions to accommodate 1000 persons.

The stadium has ramps which enable differently-abled persons to move freely.

The proposed stadium will come up on 37 acres of land belonging to Kerala University. It can be used for football and cricket.

It will have a convention centre, exhibition hall, restaurant, club house, swimming pools, indoor games facilities, retail space and parking facilities.