"As the games were postponed to January from November, all the ACOLOP members could not participate in the event," said Alex Wong, president of the Association of Portuguese Speaking Nations (Acolop), the organisers of Lusofonia games 2014, also known as thePortuguese Commonwealth Games.

He was speaking to reporters at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium. The Acolop has Portuguese-speaking Lusophone countries as its members.

The games, scheduled for November last, were postponed till January as the state government could not put up the necessary infrastructure to host the multi-discipline event.

Goa government has constructed two new stadiums while existing three facilities have been upgraded to host the games which has 12 countries participating in it.

Brazil, which topped the tally of medals during the Lusofonia games in 2009, has sent a small contingent this time which will participate only in Wushu tournament.

Wong said the member countries tried their best to support and take part in Lusofonia games.

"You can see the officials of Acolop member nations supporting the organising committee," he said, adding that all Acolop member countries have worked very hard to organise this event in Goa.

Contrary to the initial claims of organisers that over 1,200 sportsmen will participate in the Games, the ongoing event has less than 700 players from countries including the Portuguese Commonwealth nations like Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Goa (India), Macau (China), Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, and Sri Lanka.

The event is held in nine disciplines including athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, football, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and wushu.