Guwahati, March 29: The Indian Olympic Association may well have fixed the final dates for the National Games from October 5 to 14, almost a year behind schedule, but there are several loose ends that need to be tied up, if Assam wants to avoid another embarrassment.

If not the weather, a potential technical deterrent may be delay in delivery of equipment. Again, simultaneous senior nationals by various federations could also undo the best efforts of the Assam organisers.

As far as purchase of sports goods is concerned, the National Games Secretariat is yet to examine the tenders filed by 13-odd foreign manufacturers, thanks to the forthcoming Assembly elections.

According to bids by the suppliers, it takes nearly six months from opening letter of credit accounts for the material to reach its destination. As for the time required for opening letter of credit, it takes over two months in case of government formalities, from the date of signing the agreement with the suppliers, sources in the Games Secretariat told The Telegraph.

Further, senior national tournaments organised by various federations might clash with the proposed dates for the Games.

Sources said the senior nationals are likely to be hosted by mid-October, so that the teams for the Doha Asian Games could be selected from these.

?It is a usual practice in almost every federation concerned to hold senior nationals before naming their respective final squads for major events like the Asian Games or the Olympics,? said a national federation representative from Assam.

The Doha contingent is scheduled to join the final coaching and conditioning camp from November 3 onwards.

?Although (IOA president) Suresh Kalmadi has announced the Games dates, treating it as a dress rehearsal for the Doha Asiad, it cannot be one in the true sense because the National Games are participated in by only eight states in each discipline. The senior nationals are the actual dress rehearsal because they include all the states and affiliated units like Railways, Services and PSPB, that comprise the creme de la creme of sports,? the representative added.

The IOA has reportedly antagonised several federations concerned by fixing the date without their consent.

Sources said even if the organisers manage to adjust the dates for senior nationals in some disciplines, those disgruntled by the IOA?s decision due to constraints or political reasons are hinting at nationals by early-October to settle scores with the apex body.

In that case, some star sportspersons of the country might skip the Games in favour of the senior nationals, which will reduce the mega event to a lack-lustre affair.

As for the weather, the first two weeks of October have witnessed devastating floods for the last three years. Weather forecasts predict unprecedented rainfall this year.

The Games secretariat, however, is confident that there will be no clash of dates.

?The national federations will hold their senior nationals before October to facilitate qualification of states for the National Games. But the weather factor cannot be ruled out if we go by the weather conditions in the last few years,? an NGS official said.

The local organising committee did not propose any date from its end, nor did it apprise the IOA about the weather conditions in early October. It just gave its assent to Kalmadi?s decision, a committee member said.