MARGAO
In a major boost to the sporting landscape of Goa, the Goa Olympic Association (GOA) announced its vision to establish a dedicated Olympic Bhavan in the state. The announcement was made by Union Minister and North Goa MP Shripad Naik, who also serves as President of GOA, during the Association’s annual meeting held in Panaji on July 18.
The Olympic Bhavan is envisioned as a centralized hub equipped with modern infrastructure to house the operations of GOA and serve as the administrative and developmental nucleus for all State Sports Associations, strengthening Goa's position as an emerging sports powerhouse.
The meeting saw the presentation of the Annual Report of Activities for 2024–25 by Secretary General Gurudatta Bhakta, who detailed the various sporting programs, athlete development efforts, and activities conducted over the past year.
Treasurer Jayesh Naik presented and received unanimous approval for the audited financial statements for the same period, reflecting transparency and prudent management of funds. The GOA also honoured Goan medal winners from the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand by awarding them prize money cheques, reinforcing its commitment to athlete recognition and support.
The meeting also focused on policy matters, including a circular issued by the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) on selection guidelines and association functioning. Member associations expressed their concern that the generalised guidelines were impractical, given the diverse nature of individual sports, and resolved to submit a joint response to SAG through GOA, as well as individual responses.
The gathering also featured a 20-minute awareness session on the National Sports Court 2024 (Governor’s Bill) by senior journalist Jovito Lopes. Additionally, Goans Hockey President Farrell Furtado raised an important issue about the imposition of fees on State hockey camps. President Shripad Naik assured the house that he would take up the matter with the Government to ensure that stadium fees are waived off for official Pre National or Zonal camps to train State Teams.
