After The Games

| diana fernandes 

This time last year, the buzz around town was that of the Lusofonia Games: first the decision to delay the games initially supposed to be held in November due to delay in the construction work, then the rush to complete the stadiums and infrastructure that were supposed to match international standards. And rightly so, within a month’s time, with all the requirements in place, the games were a go, though with glitches not too far behind. 

The Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Bambolim where basketball and volleyball events were held, the athletics stadium also in Bambolim and the Multipurpose Stadium in Peddem, Mapusa were Judo, Taekwondo, Table Tennis and Wushu events were held, were the three new stadiums built and with it, a renovation of football arenas Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco and the Miramar beach which was the venue for beach volleyball. 

Once the games were over, however, are these stadiums being put to use and if so how? Sporting associations around the state insist that they are certainly of international standard but the prices for renting them out for tournaments is too high. 

“These stadiums are being built for sports. If they are not being allowed to use for sports, there is no point in building them. The way they want to charge, we need to remind them that it is for sports that the buildings were built,” says Vero Nunes, President, Table Tennis Association. 

One association was asked Rs. 80,000 per day. When Nunes inquired about prices at the Peddem stadium for a tournament the association wanted to organize, he was told an amount of Rs. 1 lakh per day. He was later assured of a reasonable rate. 

But while crores of rupees were spent in its building and maintenance, though some still had leaking roofs and missing shades, it is this money that needs to be recovered says Sandip Jacques, Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa (SAG). 

“The cost at which these building were built was high, so ultimately we somehow need to recover the cost that we put in,” says Jacques agreeing that prices were on the higher side, but adds the SAG is trying to work on a cross subsidizing plan so associations and clubs don’t feel the pinch. 

The plan says the director is to rent out indoor stadiums to commercial parties organizing exhibitions and events like the recently held inaugural and closing ceremonies of the International Indian Film Festival (IFFI), so costs incurred due to electricity, power and maintenance will be met while at the same time play host to sporting events as well. Currently SAG have to pay a monthly electricity bill of nearly Rs. 2 lakh. 

Jacques insists that while commercial events are allowed, sporting ones are given preference. National championships like the ONGC tournament was held at the athletics stadium in Bambolim and two international table tennis tournaments were held in Peddem. 

Retaliating to association use of the new stadiums, Jacques says, “Associations have used the stadiums and when it is returned to us, rectifying the damage caused costs us especially the wooden flooring that are prone to scratches etc.”

Sandeep Heble, member of the Badminton Association of Goa says that though the infrastructure for professional badminton isn’t available in the state, a need for which is not felt, other sports like basketball does need promoting. 

“At the moment we don’t have a requirement where we need international standards for training and practice. Goa’s well known badminton players train elsewhere in the country anyway. Because the cost of maintain these air conditioned halls is high so to put them operational and to have badminton on a daily purpose will work out to be very high for the government,” he says. 

Though the association has facilities in Panjim and Mapusa, he says, we shouldn’t expect these newly developed ones to be put to daily use. 

“If they open it up for the public they’ll have to give memberships. Giving it to the public for volleyball and basketball is probably a good idea, because there aren’t many places where those facilities are available. But I don’t think they are meant for the public, maybe the ranked players can practice there,” says Heble suggesting camps for training and professional players. 

A couple of years ago, the buildings that today form the Multi-purpose indoor stadium in Peddem was a playground that brought children from the local surroundings after a long busy day in school to play their favourite game of cricket or football. But with the coming of the stadium, children have little to no place to play, as the government decides to charge locals a monthly membership fee of Rs. 240 to use buildings and grounds. 

Football being the state sport is by far in a better position than other sports. FIFA’s decision to have Goa as a venue for the 2017 under 17 World Cup as well as international style championships including the recently concluded Indian Super League and ongoing I-League has put it in a league of its own with the stadium made available for a minimum of Rs. 10,000 per day. 

Far from the infrastructure and monetary factor, it is the game and the sport itself that suffers says sportsman Cansio Mascarenhas who is a former state basketball player. Three years ago, his daughter was forced to move to Bangalore to pursue her career in athletics owing to the lack of infrastructure here. 

“Back during my day, I remember playing for my team and enjoying the game. Today with so many associations and clubs, the joy of playing seems to be diminishing. When we played, we did so for the game not to get selected for nationals and internationals,” he says. 

 Review Bureau