Venues will be ready on time: Subash

PANJIM, MARCH 7
“The venues for hosting 2013 Lusofonia Games may not have been finalized as yet, but we are committed to host them and have everything in place,” stated GOA president, Subash Shirodkar here on Monday.
“We are all working as a team. Don’t forget we are preparing for the 2014 National Games, so our first priority will be to get the infrastructure and facilities needed for Lusofonia Games in 2013 to be ready first,” explained Subash.
“There is a proposal to have a modern, state-of-the art stadium for volleyball at Shiroda. We have already identified the place and it is not difficult to construct it within two years time,” reasoned out Subash.
“The athletic events will be held at Peddem, Mapusa, where an international-size, ultra-modern syntethic track has been planned by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. The funds have already been earmarked, courtesy Dr Susana de Sousa, director of Sports and Youth Affairs. The work will be taken up by SAG and it will not be too far when the work would start,” stressed Subash.
Subash pointed out that, “Before the actual event in 2013, some trials involving athletes from the participating nations may be carried out in one or two disciplines so as to test the facilities and also to gain in confidence in staging the big event. It will be a sort of dress rehearsal and it will help our Goan sportspersons to improve on their performances.”
“Moreover the trials will help us to plug any loopholes, so that the big event is hosted without any glitches,” voiced Subash.
“The Lusofonia Games will be held in 2013 and the National Games in 2014,” said SAG’s Executive Director, V M Prabhudesai. The Central Government as well as the Goa Government have made the necessary budget allocations and we are committed to stage both games, said Prabhudesai who added that GOA will have a vital role in organisational matters.
The Lusofonia Games will be held in football, futsal, volleyball, beach volleyball, judo, taekwondo, basketball, athletics and table tennis, nine Olympic disciplines.
When asked why the volleyball officials were not invited for interaction with the visiting delegates, like it was done in the other disciplines, Gurudatta Bhakta said the GVA president Irwin Soares was not available despite several attempts to contact him and that finally Soares had stated that he had handed charge temporarily to vice-president Hugo Gonsalves.
Mira Mar beach was indicated for beach volleyball and approved with suggestions for having matches under floodlights to avoid warm temperatures during day time.