TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Around 400 cubic feet of sand from Malvan will be used for the beach volleyball court being prepared at Mira Mar for the third Lusofonia Games to be held in Goa, from November 2 to 10.
Officials say the government has been sourcing sand from Malvan for the grounds at Fatorda and Peddem as well.
The sand was originally sought to have been brought from Colva since the sand from Mira Mar is not ideal for playing beach volleyball; but the state government which has been criticised for the delay in preparing infrastructure and unwilling to face flak from non-governmental organizations, in the background of the Supreme Court ban on sand mining, preferred to purchase the sand from neighbouring Malvan.
As per the games schedule, athletics will be held at Pedem, Mapusa, football will be played at Fatorda, basketball and volleyball at the university ground, Taleigao, judo and taekwondo at Fatorda, table tennis at the community hal, Taleigao, beach volleyball at Mira Mar and Wushu at Pernem.
The total area including the playing arena and seating space is supposed to be around 11,080 metres and three such arenas have been planned.
The BJP- led government has earmarked Rs 60 crore for Lusofonia and National Games, while the Centre has committed Rs 67 crore.
GOA (Goa Olympic Association) was given a conditional nod from ACOLOP (Associacao de Comites Olympicos de Lingua Official Portuguesa) to host the games in Goa in nine disciplines from November 2-10 this year.
The approved nine disciplines are : athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, football, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wushu, with the last being a new sport. Futsal was excluded as there is no indoor stadium to international specifications.
Locals sidelined?
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The state is investing money to construct infrastructure for the Lusofonia Games and wishes to see it is ready in time. However, the state associations~ probably as they want to see medals and bask in the reflected glory~ instead of giving locals a chance are bringing in ‘bada’ players. Players and experts say that Goa has got athletes, and if federations really wanted to give them a chance they could have put aside the politics and got a team ready to put up a good show and a chance to get some exposure.
In beach volleyball itself the state has one international – Aaron Pereira (19) and well-known state player Rama Dhawaskar alias Pappu. Pappu along with Aaron won a bronze medal at the national Youth Beach Volleyball Championship last year.
But even this duo is not sure of being selected to play at the games since the association is still debating on whether to bring in outside players. In judo as well, authorities say that only four players could be accommodated based on past records instead of having trials and want the other Goan judokas to take part in the all-India trials.
