NAGERCOIL: For coaches and school students who have come from across the State to participate in a three-day State-level Republic Day Sports meet, it was a nightmare, as no arrangements for accommodation, food and playing courts were ready even on the first day.
The sports meet was organised by the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority in association with the Department of School Education at Nagercoil Anna stadium.
Talking to The New Indian Express , Muthiah, Theni Matriculation School coach, said that they were asked to sleep on the steps of the pavilion. “ The officials concerned have not made proper arrangements for accommodation for players, who have come from Chennai, Salem, Madurai, Tiruchy, etc,” Muthiah noted. He added that the players were not provided even the basic facilities like dormitories, drinking water and clean bathrooms.
“They will not be able to prepare themselves mentally and one cannot expect improvement in the standard of games,” he pointed out.
An athlete from Bishop Gary School, Chennai, alleged that the boxing ring had many nails projecting upwards and the repairs were being carried out at 4 pm on the inaugural day.
“The stadium lacks basic amenities for organising boxing and fencing matches. Also, the food allowance provided to each athlete for a day was Rs 30, which was sufficient only to buy water.
Other districts, which hosted such events, provided food and accommodation at the stadium itself. The Nagercoil sports meet is worse than a zonal event,” he added.
Disappointed over the lack of amenities at the stadium, coaches and students of 16 district schools have submitted a petition to the district collector, condemning the lethargy of sports officials and demanding a proper solution.
When contacted, District Sports Officer Paul Suthanthira Doss said: “All problems have been rectified on Wednesday. Accommodation has been arranged at SLB and KDVP Schools for girls and boys respectively. They are being taken to the schools by vans.” Doss added that the boxing ring is being arranged according to the advice of various technical coaches in order to make it comfortable for players.