TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The world-class infrastructure for hosting the 3rd Lusofonia Games in
“All new structures at Bambolim, Taleigao, Peddem and the renovation of Nehru Stadium at Fatorda will be ready by July, well before the deadline. The Tilak Stadium work in Vasco is nearing completion with floodlights being erected,” disclosed Parrikar after he chaired a meeting of the Organising Committee of Lusofonia Games at the Secretariat, Porvorim to mainly review the progress of the work at the venues and the organizational aspects.
Speaking as the chief guest at the 16th SJAG-Geno awards, Parrikar stated: “The previous government bid for the Games in 2009 even when they had nothing to offer. That’s all. They did nothing in the past three years. The Centre released the first installment for the Games but they used it for some other purpose. It is my present Government that took it up as a challenge, since the hosting of an international event would only provide great opportunity to have the basic infrastructure which has been totally absent in the past and is the basic need for genuine sports development which has been missing all these years. Big international events can be used as an ideal platform to attract new members, share ideas, network with people around the globe and to plan for the future, besides tourism promotion.”
The rewards are by no means confined to the duration of the event, he added.
The mascot and logo for the Games is expected to be launched by February 20 with Art and Culture Director P Lolyenker being entrusted with the task.
Several committees have already been set-up under the direction of sports secretary Keshav Chandra and matters pertaining to security, accommodation, transport, medical (doping), volunteers discussed at the meeting. The proposal for buying buses was also taken up. The proposal with financial implications will now be placed before the Cabinet for approval. Some officials from
Later in the evening, Parrikar inspected the ongoing works at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda alongwith SAG’s ED Elvis Gomes.
Parrikar presented the awards to best sportspersons Francis Fernandes (received by Sanjiv Nagvenkar, football) and Tanvi Korgankar (athletics) ; best team – Goa diving; best coach Siva Swamy (chess), most promising sportspersons Wesley do Rosario (Fomento Resources, TT) and Anura Prabhudesai (badminton). Special awards were presented to Narahar Thakuar (manager of
Dilip R Salgaocar, managing director of Geno Pharmaceuticals, who sponsored the awards, reaffirmed his commitment for the promotion of sports. “I have been sponsoring Riya Sawant and Nitish Belurkar in chess and Mense in TT. My company as well as the Geno Foundation will continue to provide financial support in the future also, but there is a limit to how much one can do. As such, special schemes are the need of the hour to help children in sports,” remarked Dilip.
Sharad Naik, SJAG president welcomed. Manguesh Borkar, secretary compered. Niraj Prabhu proposed the vote of thanks.
Arjuna awardees Brahmanand Sancoalcar and Bruno Coutinho, Alberto Colaco, SAFF secretary, Savio Messias, ex-GFA secretary, Vero Nunes, president of GTTA, Ashley Gomes, president, Goa Motor Sports Association, Dronacharya awardee (chess) Ragunanadan Gokhale, Bhakti Kulkarni, Dr Sagar Salgaocar, Milton Fernandes of Goa University were among those present alongwith the officials of Goa State Chess Association, Goa Boxing Association, Goa Badminton Association.
