ACOLOP delegates provided overview on Lusofonia Games organization
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: “ The 3rd Lusofonia Games will be held from November 2-10 in Goa as all the infrastructure works as well as all other matters related to its organization are going on as per the drawn schedule, of course at a breakneck speed, with those responsible for the projects working overtime and even burning the midnight oil so that Goa can organize one of the best sporting events which will bring glory to Goa,” asserted Keshav Chandra, sports secretary and Games Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at a press briefing here, Tuesday.
Allaying any apprehensions about meeting the deadlines, Keshav Chandra was confident that all stadiums would be ready one month prior to the start of the Games. “The ACOLOP technical delegation inspected all the venues, competition as well as training, where the nine events will be held and this morning we gave a detailed presentation on 16 functional areas which was handled by several senior government officials right from the secretary level like Rai, Krishnamurthy to the Dean of GMC Dr Jindal and DIG Dr O P Mishra making known the overall plans with deadlies. Of course, there was an inordinate initial delay, with nothing happening from 2009 till mid-2012. But once Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar took over and assured that the Games would be staged, there has been no let up, with everyone putting up their best foot forward. There have been some technical inputs from the ACOLOP delegates and they will all be incorporated in the execution of the works,” stated Keshav Chandra, who has vast experience due to his involvement in the organization of Commonwealth Games held in Delhi.
“The work started pretty late, for no fault of ours. As such, all the working teams connected with the hosting of the prestigious international event are working overtime with total dedication and devotion with just one just goal in mind – to showcase the infrastructure which will be as per international norms and excel in the organization, so as to bring laurels for Goa. After all, these are our Games and we must do everything possible so as to put Goa on a very high pedestal in the field of sports,” remarked Keshav Chandra.
“There will be three state-of-the art venues for competition as well as training at Taleigao (indoor stadium for basketball and volleyball), athletics at Bambolim where the work on the eight-lane track is in progress and will have also the latest electronic equipment with the work being supervised by an expert from US with experience in Olympic tracks), Peddem, Mapusa (athletic track for training, indoor stadium for judo, taekwondo, wushu and TT and two refurbished indoor stadiums for training (volleyball, judo, taekwondo and wushu). That apart, the Nehru stadium at Fatorda is being fully renovated and the training grounds at Cuncolim, Navelim, Benaulim, Raia and Nagoa-Verna modified with provision for proper dressing, medical, referees and technical officials rooms conforming to FIFA regulations. Besides, the remaining work at refurbishing Tilak stadium in Vasco will also be taken up. Beach volleyball will be held at Mira Mar,” explained the top honcho, who oozed total confidence about the ongoing progress of the works. Overall, he gave an impression that the strategic planning process was being followed in detail with emphasis on situational analysis.
“Details concerning accommodation in starred hotels, accreditation, communication including media and broadcast, opening and closing ceremonies, coordination and protocol, planning and project management, finance and accounts, marketing including sponsorship, ticketing, merchandising, medical services with deployment of doctors and well-equipped ambulances with life-support system with paramedics and doping by WADA, office administration with headquarters at Yatri Niwas at Bambolim (GMC), procurements, security with local police and para-military forces, IT technology, transport with dedicated vehicles and liaison officers, venue development and operations and volunteers were shared with the ACOLOP delegates by all those heading their respective areas,” elaborated Keshav Chandra.
“The problem of obtaining visas for the foreign delegations was also dealt with and it will be sorted out soon. Chief Minister Parrikar is already in contact with the External Affairs as well as the Home Affairs ministries and efforts are on to obtain the same facilities that were provided during the Commonwealth Games by the Govt of India. The visa fee will have to be waived and special arrangements will have to be made for countries where there are no Indian missions for issuing visas. These are genuine concerns and they will be addressed to be benefit of the participants, since it is our intention to have the maximum number of sportspersons. The entry forms have already been sent to the ACOLOP member nations and the invitations will be dispatched shortly. The event manual is ready. We are adhering to the schedules since there are timelines and deadlines to be met on every front,” voiced Keshav Chandra.
“Ticketing for the events will be just nominal, since it forms part of overall security strategy. We can’t take any risks and cannot compromise on any security aspect. All venues will be sanitized,” said the top official.
On the resignations of GOA president Shripad Naik, MP and secretary Gurudatta Bhakta, Keshav Chandra pointed out that they had not resigned from the Organizing Committee. In fact, Shripad Naik even attended a dinner hosted by the Secretary Sports and addressed the ACOLOP members on Sunday.
“The suspension of IOA by the world body will have no bearing on the Games. Goa, being the hosts will participate in all nine disciplines fielding Goa (India) teams, having in mind the need to also earn medals. There will also be participation in wushu, which is a new event,” declared Bhakta.
“The SAG is fully involved with the entire gamut of operations. Governance is a continuous process and there is a fantastic synergy with all other departments involved with the Games. Everyone is extending their whole-hearted cooperation and support with high collaborative spirit. The manner in which several government departments and especially their heads have been pitching in has been remarkable, for there is a feeling that these are our Games and as such must be delivered with a golden touch,” stated Sandip Jacques, SAG’s ED and Joint CEO, who added that a meeting with the representatives of national federations will be held shortly.
