Goa is ready to be a permanent host for National games if the center gives due financial support according to the state Sports Minister. However, hosting the 37th National Games in the state left a lot to be desired. There were several hiccups. During the inaugural function the acoustics failure not only muffled the sound of musicians and singers like Sukhwinder Singh and Hema Sardesai but also left many angry and frustrated because they could not properly hear the speech of speakers on stage.
The number of passes handed out far outstripped the number of seats and many had to return home a dejected lot. The fireworks were entertaining but the amount of air-pollution it caused is anybody’s guess. There were a string of infrastructure failures. The Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium, a key venue, exhibited leaks during a brief rain shower, and the athletic stadium in Bambolim was swiftly waterlogged, exposing inadequate drainage facilities. There was reportedly also an instance of arch’s collapse at an indoor stadium.
These incidents not only tarnish the reputation of the state government but also pose severe safety risks to participating athletes and officials. Then there was the instance of power failure in the stadium during a medal ceremony. The venue remained in darkness for over 20 minutes as all events came to a standstill. During the heavy rains yesterday the Campal Games village experienced water-logging. Whether Goa is ready to be a permanent host for the National Games is the big question.
