Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
The Campal swimming pool was shut for over three years, and the athletic track was closed for construction, both for National Games. Meanwhile, there were no alternative arrangements made. The facilities at Bambolim, Peddem and Fatorda are far off and are still under renovation. So Mr Gaude, how do you expect the sportspersons to win medals? Are they magicians to win medals with the practice of a few days?
Remember that when every Minister takes over, he says they do not expect miracles in a day.
Similarly, sportspersons need years of practice to excel.
Talking about incentives, support and infrastructure, the government needs to give better facilities lacking in Goa.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
So easily, Sports Minister Govind Gaude mentioned at an event of kit distribution on Thursday that the government was ready to give any kind of support to sportspersons but wanted results.
Well, this sounds strange. What kind of support is the Minister talking about, and what results? He should have mentioned what support the government is giving the sportspersons.
How much money has been paid to the medal winners and sportspersons in the last five years? What practice facilities are given to them?
The Campal swimming pool was shut for over three years, and the athletic track was closed for construction, both for National Games. Meanwhile, there were no alternative arrangements made. The facilities at Bambolim, Peddem and Fatorda are far off and are still under renovation. So Mr Gaude, how do you expect the sportspersons to win medals? Are they magicians to win medals with the practice of a few days?
Remember that when every Minister takes over, he says they do not expect miracles in a day.
Similarly, sportspersons need years of practice to excel.
Talking about incentives, support and infrastructure, the government needs to give better facilities lacking in Goa.
Answer this question if you can, Minister; what kinds of kits are provided to the sportspersons? What are the travelling and accommodation facilities given to them? What are the daily allowances when they go for nationals? What are the nutritional facilities given to sportspersons?
Agreed, you may have the best intention to make Goa a leading sports State in India. But seriously, can this be achieved in a day or two?
If the Spotts Authority of Goa and the Directorate of Sports have identified any talent, they must be nurtured for years.
The government needs to provide the best of coaches, kits, playgrounds, nutrition, travel facilities, accommodation, daily allowance and finally, after winning medals, the promised prize money needs to be delivered in a time-bound manner.
Instead of threatening the sportspersons, Mr Gaude, why don’t you tell your officers to provide facilities to sportspersons or else action would be initiated?
In your own words, we wish to tell you that the Taj Mahal wasn’t built in a day. It took years and years of hard work; similarly, for every sports person to excel, it takes years.
Just like Shah Jahan didn’t say that he wanted the Taj Mahal in a day, your government also needs to have patience and create an atmosphere wherein the students feel comfortable taking sports.
You have to make parents feel comfortable that their children’s future is safe if he/she takes up sports.
You said you are renovating Kala Academy on the lines of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan without a tender. So have you asked the contractor to complete the work in a day or two? It’s been more than two years now the work is on. So why are you impatient with the sportspersons who get little help from your department?
