Sports lovers and indoor players are up in arms over the decisions of the sports department to lease out stadiums or sports facilities for private events like weddings and exhibitions. In the latest incident, the doors of the Manohar Parrikar indoor stadium at Navelim have been slammed on those regularly using the sports facilities for three days with the stadium given out for a private wedding.
Letting out indoor stadiums for private events like exhibitions, trade and hospitality shows, parties and weddings has been a trend in Goa for the past few years. If we may recall, sports lovers had protested over a scheduled exhibition last year at the Navelim stadium forcing the cancellation of that booking. The sprawling Shyama Prasad stadium at Taleigao has been known more for exhibitions, than sports events. The multi-purpose sports hall at Fatorda has witnessed several programmes that have nothing to do with sports.
We must appreciate the fact that the government has invested in sports infrastructure bringing in facilities at par with those available in other States, if not better. And we could also agree that the purpose of this infrastructure is to raise better sportspersons. However, the decision to allow private events at these facilities defeats the perceived objective.
The question is about letting out indoor stadiums for private events when these could be directed elsewhere, possibly in auditoriums, or if not, merely declining. We don’t understand the logic of leveraging costs of maintenance via non-sporting ventures like weddings and exhibitions. On the contrary, raising revenue through sports events would be a sensible and win-win approach. We also don’t understand the argument that adequate measures and checks are undertaken to ensure that infrastructure is not affected when crores have already been spent on repairs.
Firstly, if the stadiums are not in use, that itself is reflective of a failure somewhere. How does the sports minister nurture an ambition of sporting glory with such a meek surrender? The government of the day must take appropriate measures to ensure that Goans take to sports, and without this basic step, setting any goals will be an exercise in futility.
We recall the inaugural of the National Games where the sports minister expressed his passion for sports and said that the Games in Goa would leave a legacy. Gaude spoke of determination, hard work, patience and perseverance. “All the sportspersons should continue to practice. Slow and steady wins the race”, he had thundered. In reality, sportspersons don't have a say, stadiums are hosting events and winners have to labouriously wait for payments for over a year.
Not only is the act of leasing out sports facilities for private events disrespectful to the entire sporting fraternity, but it leaves indoor surfaces specially installed for badminton vulnerable. We recall the time before the pandemic when the Fatorda indoor stadium was being regularly given out for events like felicitation functions with the wooden flooring left exposed to the footwear muck of visitors rendering it slippery. One has to understand the impact of poor playing surfaces on players.
The sports minister being a staunch proponent of sporting glory cannot mix economics and sports. He must reconsider his decision and reserve sports facilities exclusively for sports. Let sporting spirit prevail.
