VASCO: Putting an end to the speculations that Goa might lose the race to host the National Games, Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar on Tuesday clarified that Goa Government is ready to host the Games in September 2017 and a formal proposal has already been submitted to Indian Olympics Association (IOA).
The ground project was initiated by power minister and Mormugao MLA Milind Naik and the work which includes an international standard volleyball court has been completed at cost of 1.37 crore.
“Initially considering early Assembly Elections in the State, we had requested the IOA to defer National Games 2016 scheduled in Goa. However, now we are ready to host the Games in September 2017 as the required infrastructure is getting ready and thus we have sent a formal proposal to IOA stating that the Games can be hosted in Goa,” Tawadkar said.
It may be recalled that in the year 2008, Goa Government had won the bid to host the 36th edition of National Games which was supposed to be held in the year 2011. However, the same was rescheduled in 2016 but Goa government officially sought postponement due to possibility of an early Assembly Elections and requested IOA to defer the Games to a later date.
Since then, IOA was planning to take the Games away from Goa and hand it over to Chhattisgarh, but with the statement of Tawadkar, it is confirmed that Goa is not backing out and would host the Games.
Commenting further on the preparations, Tawadkar said that after the officials of IOA inspected various venues for the Games, various places have been identified where the infrastructure will be created. He also said the archery field would be constructed in Poinguinim village.
To a question as to why the sports department has been neglecting to maintain the already existing grounds in Port Town, Tawadkar informed, “We have prepared the list of grounds that needs maintenance and surely in days to come we will upgrade Bhute Bhat as well as Chicalim Sports Complex ground. We hope that the ground at Non-Mon Khariwado would be developed as the case against the ground is in final stage.”
Meanwhile, in his address during the inaugural function, MLA Milind Naik appealed to the people of Mormugao to make best use of the ground facility and requested the people to extend helping hand to the ground staff to keep the ground maintained.
