Goa faces a mighty challenge on and off the field to be ready for the 2013 Lusofonia Games
It seems that infrastructure for LusofoniaGames 2013 will be ready, at least two months before the scheduled games in November, according to Chief MinisterManohar Parrikar. Now, the big question in front of the state sports fraternity is whether hosts Goa can deliverin terms of winning medals, when pitted against the mighty teams from Braziland Portugal in particular.
Goa, over the next two years, is set to be thehub of sports activities with 2013 Lusofonia Games to be followed by theNational Games, which will be the biggest multi-sport event in the history ofthe state. The priority though, is Lusofonia Games, and the government isconcentrating on the infrastructure at Fatorda, Peddem, Bambolim and GoaUniversty-Taleigao.
According to the planned schedule, the tendersfor jobs to develop the infrastructure will be completed in August, with the Sports Authority of Goa aiming to hand outall work orders by the beginning of September. With the BJP-led Governmentreworking the plans to also include the National Games 2014, the overall budgethas reduced by around 70 crore rupees, after curtailing some unnecessary thingsaccording to the CM. At this stage, the estimated preliminary budget for theLusofonia Games is Rs 220 crores.
While all the focus has been on the lack ofpreparadness, the issue of the players have slipped into the background. Fora host of a multi-sport internationalcompetition like Lusofonia Games, there is a lot of pride at stake on-and-offthe field. Goa's case is unique as it is a state and not a country with a vastarray of available talents, but we will have to compete against othercountries, in this unique competition for Portuguese-speaking regions, justlike India takes part in Commonwealth Games – a competition for former Britishcolonies.
The state teams will have some guest playerssince the Goa Olympic Association believes that the teams needs bolstering forsure with seasoned Indian' players. The number of the Indian players willarrive in due course of time. Although the reason behind permitting the guestplayers, clearly shows a desperation to win medals, one can only wonder whetherthe scenario could have been different if the authorities under the pastgovernment had displayed a similar zeal to get things moving.
