Courtesy: Times of India


Differences over Lusofonia Games venues


Differences over Lusofonia Games venues

by Marcus Mergulhao

Mar 31, 2012

PANAJI: Serious differences have cropped up between the SAG and GOA over organization of the Lusofonia Games 2013, with most of these differences centering around venues for the games for all Portuguese speaking nations.

Only recently, Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) executive director VM Prabhudesai had gone on record saying the SAG and Goa Olympic Association (GOA) are like "husband and wife". The SAG executive director has a point as the two work closely with each other, but for the moment it's more like an estranged couple forced into a live-in relationship.

SAG had initially finalized a list of venues to host nine disciplines but those venues have now undergone a sea change. Nothing is finalized as of now but before the last day of confirmation, another bout of shadow boxing is almost certain.

GOA has shortlisted the Community Centre at Taleigao to host table tennis. Major repairs and construction of changing rooms have been suggested at Taleigao, a suggestion GOA have unhesitatingly accepted. SAG, however, has plans of its own and is pushing for the Indoor Stadium at Campal to host table tennis.

"We have a venue here (the indoor stadium). I feel we should come up with the necessary infrastructure here. We have to sit down together and see what the best option is," Prabhudesai said.

It was first suggested that futsal be held at the Fr Benedict Furtado Memorial Indoor hall at Don Bosco, Panaji, then MCC came into the picture, but after GOA told GFA they had got permission from the organizers (ACOLOP) to host the event outdoors, ACOLOP put its foot down and poured cold water on that hope.

"We have come to know only now that Goa does not have an indoor facility for futsal," said ACOLOP president Alex Vong.

Athletics-the showstopper event at the Lusofonia Games- is also shrouded in controversy.

On Friday, GOA took the visiting ACOLOP delegation for a site inspection at Peddem Sports Complex in Mapusa which, they feel, should be the site to host athletics but SAG is still rooting for its own ground at Campal. "If there are no CRZ violations, Campal should be a perfect venue. They have seen the venue before and have approved it as well," explained Prabhudesai.

Once the visiting ACOLOP delegates leave for their respective countries on Sunday, GOA and SAG will sit across the table and sort out their differences. They do not have much time as the final list of venues must be handed to ACOLOP before the deadline of April 10.

The clock is ticking, and ticking fast.




Courtesy: Times of India


Goa gets 3 months to save Lusofonia shame

by Marcus Mergulhao

Apr 1, 2012

PANAJI: Chief minister Manohar Parrikar had to send one of his trusted aides to convince the visiting delegation of Associacao dos Comites Olimpicos de Lingua Oficial Portuguesa (ACOLOP) or Association of the Portuguese Speaking Olympic Committees that Goa will deliver the necessary infrastructure required to successfully host the Lusofonia Games 2013.

Goa won the right to host the 3rd Lusofonia Games-games for all Portuguese-speaking nations-in August 2009, but since then there has been little or no progress. When the delegation came for inspection last year they were shown grandiose plans, but on their next visit, this year, the delegation was left shocked at the lack of progress.

The general assembly of ACOLOP met in South Goa on Saturday and decided to adopt a wait-and-watch policy. For the moment, the Games will be held between November 2 and 10, 2013, but a final decision will be taken at the next ACOLOP general assembly in July.

"It is now entirely in the hands of Goans. If you want to organize the Games, only you can," said Mario Rosa de Miranda, ACOLOP general secretary.

The Angola-based official said their technical team would closely monitor the work that the Goa Olympic Association and state government have promised to undertake in the next couple of months.

"When the general assembly meets again in July (in Lisbon) we will have a good picture whether the deadlines can be met and a final decision will be taken accordingly," he said.

What is for certain, though, is that futsal and chess will not be part of the Games. Futsal has been shelved because of the lack of an indoor stadium to conduct the sport, while chess didn't find favour because it's a non-Olympic sport. Instead, wushu has been included among the nine disciplines.

Ironically, there is no wushu association registered with the Sports Authority of Goa, and no attempt was made to push any other sport by the GOA.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com