the goan I network
PANAJI
Close on the heels of the Goa Olympic Association (GOA) meeting which was held on the outskirts of the city on Saturday, GOA Secretary General, Gurudatta Bhakta spoke to this paper on the key points discussed at the meet.
With the much-delayed National Games set to take place in March 2019 and much infrastructure work yet to be done; it was pertinent that this was one of the highlights of the meeting.
“With the National Games slated to commence on March 30 in Goa, the association discussed on how and when the teams of the various associations will begin their training. This keeping in mind that refurbishment work is underway or infrastructure is yet to be built. We plan to have the training to commence at least three months and five days prior to the accreditation to the event,”
Bhakta revealed.
But with Goa not having the necessary facilities in place for rifle shooting and cycling, alternate locations were
discussed for the organization of these disciplines.
“In an expensive sport as rifle shooting, 60-70 crores is required for creation of the necessary infrastructure.
In the State, the usage is
|limited. People using these specialised equipments
in the country are very less.
It was a prudent move taken by the government to hold these sports elsewhere where little money would be used,” the GOA Secretary pointed out.
Regarding cycling being moved out of the State,
he stated: “There is no
velodrome in the State. If it could be
done in Goa, then we would not be looking at options in Kerala or Delhi,” he maintained.
With the four-year term of the current dispensation drawing to a conclusion soon, he declared that elections were due. “Somewhere
between the second and third week of September fresh
elections would take place and Adv Gaurang Panandikar has been appointed as the
returning officer.”
The need to have new office premises for GOA was also discussed.
