SPOTLIGHT: Goa in frenzied rush to make last-minute accommodations for 10,000 athletes

Govt’s much-hyped Games Village still a distant dream

VIBHA VERMA | OCTOBER 15, 2023, 12:50 AM IST

PANAJI
As the highly anticipated National Games is barely 10 days away, Goa is caught in a frenzied rush to make last-minute accommodations for the thousands of athletes who will soon converge to showcase their sporting prowess.

The government's fervent drive for Sports Tourism promotion could also take a beating owing to the current shortage of suitable lodging facilities not for the sports personalities only but also for their coaches and officials.

Amidst all this, the Goa government’s claim of prepared infrastructure is overshadowed by a glaring issue – the absence of a Games Village.

The hasty arrangement to book accommodations has sparked concerns and anxiety. Sources revealed that slightly over 100 hotels have been confirmed to host the athletes and many more are still pending confirmation.

The Goa government has assigned the responsibility of finding suitable accommodation facility to Thomas Cook, travel firm. Government officials, however, downplayed the concerns, assuring that hotel bookings will be finalised before the Games commence.

Thomas Cook's role

Thomas Cook is actively working to secure 3, 4, and 5-star hotels, depending on the specific requirements of the Sports Authority of Goa. The plan is to ensure that each proposed hotel has a minimum of 20 rooms, which would be allotted on sharing basis. “Our top priority is to secure accommodations for the athletes in close proximity to the respective stadiums where they will be competing in their sports. We are also looking at room sharing among the athletes, mostly two in a room,” an official said.

Transportation woes

As the accommodation situation is yet to settle, the State also faces challenges in finalising transportation for athletes. Authorities are considering options such as hiring cabs from app-based aggregators, buses, and inter-state coaches. "If the total strength of vehicles falls short, we might have to hire inter-state coaches," an official said revealing uncertainty about which mode of transport will be allocated to each athlete.

Absence of Games Village

The absence of a Games Village, a concept integral to multi-discipline sporting events worldwide, adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Originally slated for the National Games in 2019 but later abandoned due to the State's inadequate readiness to host the Games, the Village was intended to serve not only as lodging for participants but also as a hub of amenities, including a polyclinic, games room, gymnasium, and a communal gathering space for athletes.

Appeal to Union ministry

In the wake of the existing situation, sources stated that Sports Minister Govind Gaude has just recently submitted a fresh proposal to the Union ministry seeking to reconsider the Dhargal area for setting up a Games Village with the necessary infrastructure. The Rs 400-crore project was kept in abeyance while the current proposal is pending approval.

An unconventional solution

While the setting up of the Games Village remains uncertain, the 2023 National Games is set to introduce an innovative concept – the Sports Village City at Campal. This unique approach will host daily cultural programmes from various states for the athletes. The venue, equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning and fans to ensure the comfort of all participants, has been set up in line with the German hangar.

While it may not replace the traditional Games Village, officials in the SAG stated that the new concept promises to offer an interesting alternative and a memorable cultural experience for athletes.

As the countdown to the Games continues, all eyes are on the government’s efforts to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for the athletes, coaches, and officials.

So far 200 schools have registered for inaugural

PANAJI: Nearly 200 schools have so far registered for the inauguration of the National Games 2023 – an overwhelming response to the Education Department’s circular issued on October 12.

Given this tremendous interest, the department has decided to accommodate these school students across all the event days, even allowing repeat batches or additional batches to witness the Games.

“The total number of applications is around 200 and more are expected... Our priority is to ensure that students attend their preferred sporting events but they will not be granted permission to attend sports near water bodies for their safety,” Director of Education Shailesh Zingde said, speaking to The Goan.

The department is also likely to consult the government to allow more than 100 schools for the grand inaugural scheduled for October 26 at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. The inauguration at 4:30 pm will be graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students to witness the 37th National Games to be held in Goa and to cheer and support over 10,000 athletes. The first 100 schools will get an opportunity to witness the Inauguration Ceremony. Heads of all the Govt/ Govt aided/ unaided/secondary & higher secondary schools are hereby requested to register to depute 30 students along with two teachers (preferably 1 PE teacher) to attend the Inauguration Ceremony,” the circular released on October 12 stated. It also suggested that the lady teacher should accompany girl students and all shall report to the venue by 4 pm.

Students have been asked to carry their school identity cards while teachers have to carry their identity proofs to the venue. For security reasons, students and teachers will be given separate admit cards and bands. Some schools have opted for Balrath buses to and fro the venue.