The third edition of the Lusofonia Games in Goa, scheduled to begin in November 2, has run into rough weather again with the organising committee (LUGOC) grappling with the lack of entries for Sports Specific Volunteers (SSVs).
As if the missed deadlines and shoddy state of infrastructure weren't enough, the lack of interest among the Goans to volunteer for the international multi-sport event has thrown the future of the Games into complete disarray.
It has been learnt that out of the expected 1500 SSVs needed by the Lusofonia Games Organising Committee (LUGOC), just about 300 have been registered so far, leaving a huge gap of 1200 volunteers.
"The secretaries of various sports associations, who have been entrusted the task to provide SSVs to LUGOC, are finding it difficult to meet the required numbers given lack of interest on the part of Goans," an official said.
However, the lack of interest arises from the fact that volunteers themselves don't know exactly what duties they need to perform. Also, the police verification of volunteers, no remuneration and accomodation to them with working hours running till late in the night are also keeping them away from the Games.
"LUGOC is just providing them with a kit and food and no other incentives and facilities," added official.
LUGOC had called for applications under two categories -- General Volunteers with a fluent command over Portuguese language and SSVs with experience in sports events.
With international teams from all 12 Portuguese-speaking countries are expected to arrive during the second half of October and no takers for sports volunteering, LUGOC has a huge mountain to climb with the BJP-led state government's failure to complete Games-related projects on time. With most of the infrastructure work still pending, the Games are either likely to be cancelled or postponed to February next year.
The meeting of the Chefs-de-Mission, which was scheduled to be held in Goa next week in this view, has been called off.
Instead a four-member high-level LUGOC delegation will fly to Macau to attend the Extraordinary General Body meeting of Association of Portuguese Speaking Olympic Committee (ACOLOP) on September 22 to decide on Games' fate.
