MARGAO
Goa's bid to host the National Games will not be delivered on a platter but they will have to ward off competition from a number of bidders if the State is "serious" in its bid to stage the prestigious event, says a senior official who was in Goa on a fact finding mission.
Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) National Games adviser Anandeshwar Panday visited Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Monday morning. The official said that the sole purpose of the visit was to acquaint himself of the situation on the gr
ound first hand as directed by the IOA General Secretary Rajeev Mehta.
"The reason for this visit is that so many times the Games have been getting postponed. The IOA and even other states don't believe that Goa is prepared to host the National Games. The Goa Olympic Association (GOA) have been telling lies every time that the State is ready. We (the IOA) are ready but they are not ready," Panday said after he visited a few facilities that were built for the National Games.
The National Games adviser also said that Goa still needs to convince the IOA that they are serious about hosting the Games. "Right now, the IOA is not convinced that Goa will be able to host the National Games. They are postponing the Games umpteen times. In fact, a lot of States have shown their willingness to host the National Games within one year,"
he added.
Meanwhile, VM Prabhudesai, the Executive Director of SAG and Director of Sports and Youth Affairs disclosed that a meeting between IOA's Mehta and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was expected to happen over the next few days.
"The General Secretary was supposed to meet the Chief Minister a few days ago. It was postponed because the CM had gone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Vice President of India. But the meeting should happen in the coming few days. The GOA is in constant touch with the secretary general. The government is very keen on hosting the Games and it is a foregone conclusion that the Games will be held," Prabhudesai said as he countered Panday's view.
As for Panday, the IOA official wants concrete affirmation from the Goa administration regarding the hosting of the Games.
"If the Goa administration -- and by that I mean the Chief Minister, the Sports Secretary and others -- can assure the IOA that Goa will host, then the Games will go ahead. Otherwise, the Game will be cancelled. The whole nation wants to see Goa host the National Games,"
Panday said.
Prabhudesai said that Goa are targeting to host the Games by October-November next year. "The government is very keen in hosting the Games. We have requested the IOA that instead of 2017, we want to host it next year. Things got delayed because lot of time was lost in the General Assembly elections and prior to the elections. No work could be undertaken and the new Government took time to understand the requirements," the veteran sports administrator said.
"The State government has allotted Rs 110 crore exclusively for the National Games. We are looking to host the Games in October-November 2018," Prabhudesai stated.
Meanwhile, Panday added that he will send his detailed report to the IOA about the visit on the back of what he has seen in Goa. "I will definitely send a positive report provided that Goa shows that they are ready to host the Games," Panday said.
"The reason for this visit is that so many times the Games have been getting postponed. The IOA and even other states don't believe that Goa is prepared to host the National Games. The Goa Olympic Association (GOA) have been telling lies every time that the State is ready. We (the IOA) are ready but they are not ready," Panday said after he visited a few facilities that were built for the National Games.
The National Games adviser also said that Goa still needs to convince the IOA that they are serious about hosting the Games. "Right now, the IOA is not convinced that Goa will be able to host the National Games. They are postponing the Games umpteen times. In fact, a lot of States have shown their willingness to host the National Games within one year,"
he added.
Meanwhile, VM Prabhudesai, the Executive Director of SAG and Director of Sports and Youth Affairs disclosed that a meeting between IOA's Mehta and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was expected to happen over the next few days.
"The General Secretary was supposed to meet the Chief Minister a few days ago. It was postponed because the CM had gone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Vice President of India. But the meeting should happen in the coming few days. The GOA is in constant touch with the secretary general. The government is very keen on hosting the Games and it is a foregone conclusion that the Games will be held," Prabhudesai said as he countered Panday's view.
As for Panday, the IOA official wants concrete affirmation from the Goa administration regarding the hosting of the Games.
"If the Goa administration -- and by that I mean the Chief Minister, the Sports Secretary and others -- can assure the IOA that Goa will host, then the Games will go ahead. Otherwise, the Game will be cancelled. The whole nation wants to see Goa host the National Games,"
Panday said.
Prabhudesai said that Goa are targeting to host the Games by October-November next year. "The government is very keen in hosting the Games. We have requested the IOA that instead of 2017, we want to host it next year. Things got delayed because lot of time was lost in the General Assembly elections and prior to the elections. No work could be undertaken and the new Government took time to understand the requirements," the veteran sports administrator said.
"The State government has allotted Rs 110 crore exclusively for the National Games. We are looking to host the Games in October-November 2018," Prabhudesai stated.
Meanwhile, Panday added that he will send his detailed report to the IOA about the visit on the back of what he has seen in Goa. "I will definitely send a positive report provided that Goa shows that they are ready to host the Games," Panday said.
