MARGAO: Even as Ravindra Bhavan Margao Chairman Prashant Naik disclosed plans to make Margao the permanent venue for sports related film festival, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardessai said his target to re-establish Margao as the cultural capital of Goa was fulfilled.
Speaking at the function to mark the inauguration of the two day film festival on running titled Reels on Heels Prashant recalled that last year they had a film festival on cycling titled “Reels on Wheels” and this year they had got the Olympian P T Usha to inaugurate the festival “Reels on Heels”.
He was all praise to Anoop Babani and Savia Viegas who viewed many films to select the seven that will be screened during the two day festival and pointed out that cycling is very popular in South Goa and pointed out that recently 250 people participated in the 100 kms cycle ride organized by Saxti Riders where 100 completed the ride.
“We are planning to have a film festival on football and shall try to get Messi or Ronaldo to Margao for that,” said Prashant much to the pleasure of the student present for the function,
Vijai disclosed that he wanted to re-establish Margao as the cultural centre of the State and hence had nominated the team to manage Ravindra Bhavan and appreciated the out of box thinking of the management that is becoming popular and making Ravindra Bhavan the hub of cultural activity.
P T Usha urged the youngsters to do well and bring name and fame to the country and pointed out that there are various facilities made available to the youth in present times which did not exist during her time.
“I first saw a synthetic track when I participated in the Moscow Olympics where I lost the gold medal for lack of exposure, but today we have synthetic tracks in practically every state,” she said adding that athletes are also given a lot of facilities and care in present times as compared to during her time.
She is presently running an academy in Calicut where her students have won international and national medals and have made their presence felt at the Asian and Commonwealth games. “While focusing on coaching, I have to also go around looking for sponsors,” she said adding that it would be better if the corporate world would chip in promoting sports.
