PANJIM: Not just once, but twice. The Goa Fire Run, supposedly to be organised by the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of Goa, got cancelled in the State for successive years.
Both 2020 and 2021 editions, which were scheduled in March and April of the respective years, had to be called off due to the rising Corona virus cases in the State.
This left many endurance athletes unhappy. It’s not just the delay that caused the tension, but also the fact that the registration fee wasn’t refunded back.
It is learnt that a group of 68 athletes had paid a sum of Rs 74,000 as the registration fee for the Goa Fire Run 2020 edition; however, since the event never took place, the athletes alleged the sum wasn’t refunded.
“Unlike other races, the Fire department didn’t refund the registration fee nor send any details regarding the refund,” stated an athlete Sukesh Jadhav (name changed).
It is understood that after the race was called off in 2020, the athletes were told they could directly participate in the 2021 edition without further registrations (fee). However, the race was called off once again in April this year after the State was hit with the second wave of Coronavirus.
“Now even after more than a year i.e. from March 2020 till date all the participants have not received the registration fees,” lamented Jadhav. The State athlete and his group members further urged the officials to refund their amount and requested the Government of Goa to look into the matter and take disciplinary action against the concerned person.
Another athlete who wished to remain anonymous stated, “As a government body, the organisers should have communicated with all the athletes and they have been unprofessional in their attitude.”
“We have participated in many other races but never saw this approach. Other race/run organisers ensured we got our registration fee refunded when the event got cancelled. Here despite attempts to seek the refund, nothing came from the organiser’s side,” the athlete said.
This is just one group among the many athletes who had registered for the run. How many more could have been waiting for the money to be refunded?
When contacted an official of the Goa Fire Run, who wished not to disclose his name, stated that they haven’t received any complaint from any athlete till date. “Yes the race got cancelled twice due to the pandemic. However, we haven’t received any complaint from any athlete till date,” said the official.
However, the member of the organising committee stated that the registration fee will be refunded to all the athletes since the event never took place.
“Since the event got cancelled in April, we were considering having it in the coming months. If the athletes want the refund, we shall compensate the athletes. I have communicated with the concerned department and I am sure they will refund the amount to the athletes,” assured the official.
