The Goan: Given the fact that the Ministry of Home affairsand the Ministry of External affairshave not given permission as yet, what is the fate of the Lusofonia games?
Elvis Gomes: The secretary of sport is following up with theconcerned authorities. The ministry of home has to clear it, since there areforeign countries involved following which the ministry of foreign affairs willgive its permission. I don’t see any issues; it will be done shortly, though Icannot give you a date.
TG: With the gamesscheduled to be held in November 2013, what is the status of the tenders?
EG: Three tenders were floated on October 17 valued at 150crores. It will be opened in the second week of November.
TG: What is the budgetary allocation for the Lusofonia gamesand do you think that with mining discontinued and with social programsaffected funding for the games will be hit?
EG: The government has allocated between Rs.160-180 croresfor the creation of new sporting facilities. The money has been committed andthere will be no going back on the amount decided.
TG: Is ACOLOP providing any funds?
EG: They will be providing $25 for each athleteparticipating though a request has been made to increase this amount.
TG: Can you give me the names of various facilities to beused for sporting activities?
EG: The practicevenues for all games, a new athletic track and 2 indoor halls will be atPeddem. Judo, table tennis, basketball, volleyball, futsal, will be held at theGoa University. In addition an indoor hall will be constructed. The beachvolleyball will be played in Miramar. A new international class athletic trackand field facility will be constructed at the Goa Medical College at Bambolimand the football will be held at Fatorda. All the facilities at the stadiumwill be FIFA accredited. The work at the Fatorda stadium is done and at theTilak stadium it has started.
TG: Who is the consultant for this job and how do you intendto complete the facilities before the monsoons?
EG: Shashi Prabhu and Associates, who are known as sportsinfrastructure consultants have been retained for this project. The parties whobid will have to give assurances that they will work through the monsoons andcomplete the job.
TG: Where do you plan to house all the delegates andsportsmen who will come for the games?
EG: We will be housing them in 3, 4 and 5 star hotels inPanjim. The football tournament will be held in the south. According to themanifesto of ACOLOP, depending on the seniority of the delegates he or she willbe housed in a five star hotel or lower. This process has not begun but we willneed these hotels between November 2-12.
TG: Will some ofthe events have to be shifted to Maharashtra and Karnataka due to the delay inthe construction of these facilities?
EG: The reports thatappeared may have been the result of a suggestion made by someone with goodintentions. The games will be held right here in Goa.
TG: The President of the Goa Cricket Association had statedthat a cricket match will be held at the Fatorda stadium next year. Won’t thatcreate a disturbance in the preparation for the games?
EG: There will be no cricket match at Fatorda, the gamestake precedence.
TG: What steps are being taken to ensure the security of theathletes and officials attending the games?
EG: You don’t have countries like America participating hereso we don’t really anticipate any problems.
