PANAJI
The Goa Sports Foundation (GSF) alleged that the shifting of National Games from Goa to Gujarat is all due to "the lackadaisical attitude of State Sports Department, Government of Goa".
"No proper planning was done, only development of sports infrastructures and so far Rs 445 crore has been spent on the sports infrastructure and not a single amount on sports science/equipment and training of Goan athletes," said Licio Roncon, GSF General Secretary.
"Despite double engine sarkar, the Goa govt failed to organise the National Games whereas the Kerala National Games had planned the training of athletes three years in advance. The Goa government is still in (the process of) development of infrastructure. In fact, the Goa govt was supposed to host the National Games in 2011 and now we are in 2022. Now you can imagine how much sports have been damaged in Goa."
"It is also shocking that Goa government planned to organise cycling and shooting events in Delhi; with that amount Goa can build infrastructure for these event. The infrastructure built for National Games at exorbitant price, we had earlier requested the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Competition Commissioner of India to get back the excess amount charged by the contractors. For example, laying of hockey turf at Peddem, Rs 6 crore extra were looted by the contractor," Roncon alleged.
