The National Games complex in Hotwar, Ranchi

Ranchi, Jan. 8: With just over a month in hand, the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC) secretariat today sprang into action and resumed online accreditation of players and officials.

“We started online accreditation today and this process will gain momentum in a few days,” NGOC organising secretary S.M. Hashmi said.

Accreditation of players and officials is necessary because without an accreditation card, neither a player nor an official can enter the Games village or any of the playing arenas.

“The Railway Board has given permission for concessionary fares to participating teams and players. This has been communicated to Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which in turn will communicate it to the participating state Olympic associations, so that they can avail the concessions for their journey to Ranchi, Jamshedpur or Dhanbad and back home,” Hashmi said.

Regarding hotel accommodation for visiting IOA officials, invitees and other officials, Hashmi said, “We had a meeting with hotel owners the other day, and on their assurance we are confident that our requirements would be met.”

The NGOC has asked the hotel owners to make rooms available from February 10 to 28. The Games are scheduled to take place from February 12 to February 26.

Hashmi added that the hotel owners had submitted the rate cards and the number of rooms that would be made available for the Games.

Regarding rescheduling of archery and wrestling, Hashmi said, “We have sent the demands of the Archery Federation and the Wrestling Federation of India to IOA. After IOA’s decision, some minor changes will be made in the dates for archery and wrestling. As this will just involve shifting of these events by a few days this way or that, it will not affect the schedule of the Games.”

Hashmi left for Dhanbad this afternoon, and would be visiting Jamshedpur thereafter to galvanise camp offices in the two cities and to take stock of the preparations.