Panaji: Sports minister Govind Gaude on Tuesday said that the other states which were vying to host the National Games were busy in spreading negativity about Goa, ahead of the event.
The National Games 2023 were held in Goa from October 26 till November 9.
Addressing a function held to felicitate the medal winners from Goa for the National Games, Gaude said that the image was being portrayed that Goa will not be host the National Games 2023 successfully.
“When we took the responsibility of hosting the National Games for the year 2023, the questions were raised whether we would be able to host them successfully,” he said.
The minister said that he had promised on the floor of Goa legislative assembly that the games would be held in the year 2023.
“When Indian Olympics Association handed over the responsibility to us, entire sports fraternity had apprehensions whether we would be able to do it,” Gaude said.
“Those states which were vying to host the National Games 2023 were spreading negativity about Goa. We have faced it. It was tough and challenging times for us,” he said.
Gaude said that Goa wanted to make 37th National Games to be the best. “We have done it. The certificate of successful organization is given by none other than the sportsmen themselves,” he said.
The minister said that many felt that the National Games 2023should be held annually in Goa. Gaude said that if central government is ready to bear the expenditure, Goa is ready to host these games every year.
Referring to the press conferences held to criticize the games, Gaude said that there were many working like agents busy in defaming Goa during the National Games.
I have seen how some people were busy working to try that National Games are not held in Goa, he added.
In the event held at Dr Shama Prasad Mukherjee stadium on Tuesday, the minister felicitated all the medal winners from Goa. The state has won 27 gold and total 92 medals for the recently held games.
