Panaji: Questioning BJP’s model of sports development, GFP said that sports facilities built with taxpayer’s money cannot be handed over to commercial ventures.GFP president Vijai Sardesai asked why Dempo Sports Club or Sporting Clube de Goa, which have experience in nurturing local talent, were not approached to use the football facility.“Are we building sports facilities for our children or are we building commercial opportunities around public sports infrastructure?” Sardesai said. “After govt’s decision to entrust the management of the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium to a private operator, a similar approach is probably being adopted for the Campal sports complex. Govt must come clean on the exact nature and extent of the proposed commercial arrangements.”He said that govt must ensure public investment in sports infrastructure never compromises accessibility for children, schools, local clubs and aspiring athletes.“The success of a sports policy should not be measured by how much revenue a sports facility earns. It should be measured by how many Goan athletes go on to represent the state and the country,” said Sardesai.
