PANAJI
Mandrem MLA, Jit Arolkar on Wednesday made a passionate plea for keeping politicians away from sports administration particularly the different sports discipline sports associations alleging that it was one of the main reasons for poor performance of the State.
"There are examples of individuals controlling associations for 20-30 years. Yet others are controlling, as office-bearers, State associations of multiple disciplines," Arolkar himself a yesteryear State-level volleyball player, said.
Arolkar was participating in the discussion on the demands for grants pertaining to the Sports department.
He said, mismanagement of these associations, in many cases by politicians, has led to pathetic facilities and conditions for Goa's sportsmen.
"I myself have travelled in unreserved compartments on tours to represent Goa. We have sat outside train toilets and travelled because as simple an errand as booking athletes' travel in advance couldn't be managed," Arolkar said, adding that the Sports Authority of Goa should consider action like suspension or de-affiliation of such non-performing associations.
He also urged the Sports Minister to introduce some mechanism to ensure accountability from the Associations and fix performance benchmarks for them in terms of winning medals or achieving improvement of national rankings for the State.
