The absence of dedicated skating court in South Goa has hampered youngsters from taking up the sport.But the government seems to have no plans to set up a skating rink at Fatorda sports complex, even though the plans are now afoot to acquire land for a baseball ground
BY CHARLES D SOUZA
MARGAO
They had won laurels for the State in skating “ winning a host of medals in the recent championship held across the border. Sadly, however, the absence of dedicated skating court in South Goa has come in the way of youngsters taking up the sport.
There seems to be a dearth of young talent registering themselves to learn finer nuances of skating. But the government seems to have no plans to set up a skating rink at the Fatorda sports complex, even though the plans are now afoot to acquire land for a baseball ground.
It has made matters worse for parents and children alike during the renovation of Nehru Stadium for the Lusofonia Games. “Skating training used to be imparted inside the stadium, but the programme has gone haywire since the completion of renovation works of the stadium,” informs Christo Fernandes, a resident of Colva.
With no place available for skating around the Fatorda sports complex,the SAG has finally requested the SPGDA to allow use of the ground acquired for the pick up stand. The plea has found favour with SGPDA but with a condition. The children will have to forego training if the area is leased out for exhibitions. Another parent Vijay Raikar echoed similar sentiments. “There are two skating rinks at Porvorim and Miramar but there’s hardly any response there. We fail to understand why the government is dilly dalling on a skating rink in South Goa when there is a huge demand for training,” Raikar added. He lamented that attempts to have audience with the then chief minister Manohar Parrikar has come a cropper. Also, a representation made to Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado have failed to evoke any response, he added.
Another parent pointed out that what they were asking from the government was proper infrastructure for skating. “No one seems to be bothered about skating. There are 150 children coming to practice every day. But the authorities have no time to pay attention to skating,” remarked the parent.
When The Goan Everyday drew the attention of SAG Executive Director Sandip Jaques to the hardship faced by the budding skaters due to non availability of skaters ground, Jaques said that his department is working on modalities of providing them temporary arrangement. However,he added that the site has been identified at Navelim and works will commence in view of the forth coming National Games.
