PANAJI: Goa Olympic Association (GOA) has planned a series of promotional and awareness activities including felicitation of sportspersons and organisers, on the sidelines of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from July 23 to August 8.
Announcing the 17-day programme to be held in North and South Goa; Union Minister & President of GOA, Shripad Naik revealed that the events also include cycle rallies, mini-marathons, quizzes and daily screening of Olympic events from 5-7pm. The hub of the events will be KTC Bus Stand in Panaji and Agakhan Municipal Park in Margao. He also hailed Lenny da Gama, Goa Boxing Association vice-president, for being a part of IOC boxing taskforce as a technical official.
GOA secretary general Gurudatta Bhakta expressed confidence that the massive Olympic sports awareness initiative will generate interest among the masses. He also added that the focus now is on creating a fresh impetus to host the National Games in the state.
To a query on failure of a Goan sportsperson to qualify for Olympics, Sports Authority of Goa executive director V M Prabhudesai emphasised that “lack of consistency” has proved the bane for the state talents so far.
Meanwhile, Goa State Tennis Association secretary Rajendra Godinho will be GOA’s representative at Tokyo 2020.
Goa should stop these felicitation in the name of Olympics or national s. These r absolutely political driven. No base for selection. Common man’s money is getting wasted on rich families like TT.