TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: As confirmed by LUGOC officials, 739 athletes were meant to participate in the opening ceremony, however in a surprising revelation only 410 athletes have arrived in the state thus far.
Upon enquiry it is learned that of the 200 participant that will represent team Goa-India only 176 have arrived while the remaining will arrive just in time for the opening ceremony.
At the time of going to press, Angola has only 10 athletes in the state instead of 75 and Guinea Bissau stands at an undersized team of five in place of 29.
Not a single athlete from Brazil, Equatorial Guinea or Sao Tome and Principe has arrived yet, however LUGOC officials are hopeful of their arrival.
Only half of the Mozambique and Macau-China contingent is in Goa with the rest slated to arrive according to the competition dates.
Sri Lanka arrived with 40 athletes instead of 64, however their arrivals proved chaotic as Sri Lankan authorities provided no arrival information to LUGOC.
Cape Verde has most of it 35 athletes in the state while Portugal has only 15 of its 56 confirmed participants.
East Timor has only six athletes in Goa after 20 athletes pulled out of the football competition. If the total athletes remains 410 without any addition, the ‘Grand Parade’ at the opening ceremony seems to have lost its sparkle. However despite the alleged drop in number the Games will still ‘Bring It On’.
