Lusofonia Games to be held on schedule, says Goa official

Panaji: Concerns regarding infrastructure notwithstanding, the Goa Olympic Association on Monday maintained that the third Lusofonia Games here would be held on schedule.

The multinational sporting event involves athletes from Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) countries and also those having significant Portuguese communities or that have a common past with Portugal. The Goa Government is organising the multi-discipline event here from November 2-10, but there is uncertainty over the Games following media reports that stadiums and other infrastructure were still not in place. However, GOA Secretary Gurudatta Bhakta said these reports are not true and the Games will be held on time. GOA is one of the Government agencies involved in preparations. "Media reports about uncertainty over hosting the Lusofonia Games in Goa due to incomplete infrastructure are not true. Works on the venues are going on at a fast pace and I assure they will be completed before the deadline," he said. "Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is personally monitoring the progress on a daily basis and he is a man who is known to deliver. We believe in him," stated Bhakta. Bhakta was speaking on the occasion of release of the fifth edition of `Goa in Sports` magazine here. PTI