IOC bans Indian Olympic Association, elections void
As the headline broke, so did millions of hearts, who went mad cheering for India at the London 2012.
Just as Indian athletes were cherishing their finest show ever in an Olympics and the country happy and optimistic as ever, out came the news that took people back to where they were – there is no future of sports in the country. The politicians are shameful than ever, putting vested interest over national ones.
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The prime reason put ahead by the International Olympic Committee in slapping a ban to the Indian body boils down to unwarranted government interference. Sources close to the top body believe, in spite of repeated warnings from the IOC, IOA didn’t go ahead with elections as per norms as opposed were in for a government poke.
The International Olympic Committee banned the Indian Olympic Association over elections that could result in a tainted official taking over as the only candidate for secretary-general, said a source close to the IOC. It was believed that Lalit Bhanot could take the honours and one must remember that his name came up in the Commonwealth Games scam alongside Kalmadi and Verma, who decided to step aside, but not Bhanot. Bhanot was destined to fill the secretary-general void with his candidacy being one of the stand-outs for the chair.
Implications of the ban
The ban means an effective end to funding from the IOC to the national Olympic committee (IOA), no Indian officials attending Olympic meetings and Indian athletes banned from competing at the Olympics under their country’s flag.
India, a country already lacking sports culture, given sports has failed to be an integral part of an Indian’s life and the common belief of- ‘kheloge kudoge to ho jaaoge kharaab, padhoge likhoge to banoge nawaab’ (meaning if you play, you get spoilt and if you study you are set for something big in life.)
Now, with the decision of the IOC to let go off IOA, even fewer would be interested to go ahead and pursue a career in sports because the light that was showing at the end of the tunnel is probably gone. With London 2012 believed to be a path breaking success story in Indian sports and augured well for bringing in fresh talent. It all looks a little dark now, though, this may sound cynical, but this is the harsh reality.
People suddenly now believe the light at the end of the tunnel was probably the politicians holding a torch trying to fool the people.
Just as a strong base or foundation forms the basis for a structure, youth development forms the basis of a highly competitive World class athlete. Youth development begins with involving the biggest stakeholders in any sport, i.e. the parents. The parents need to be made aware of the endearing benefits of sports, even if they do not view it as a future prospect.
Now, with no aid from the IOC and India full of political influence, the youth development which already has been stagnant forever, will now slow down further.
We generally find people from the rural areas coming up and representing India at the Olympics. They had whatever little help from government and Associations, aided by the IOC. With the raw material (aid) now seem to be at an all time low, the supply of the products (athletes) is set to bog down.
With India set to grow strong on their Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) plan for development of sports and athletes, the disbanding by the IOC may cease it somewhat, given the government has much more important issues to deal with – namely, poverty, unemployment and… you know what I mean.
Another fact is that with the IOA declared null and void by the IOC, Indian athletes will have to participate in the Olympics under the Olympic flag. But with limited spots up for grabs, one of the most important factors in the development of a top athlete, motivation, may go missing.
People would be more wary of the political influence and may opt to either not step into or opt out of sports, which doesn’t augur well for the nation.
With Bhupati tweeting, So I got banned, now IOA. They say normally these things happen in threes, wonder what is next. Probably this was in store:
Wrestling out of 2020 Olympics - as if earlier wasn’t enough!
The sport which got India two medals and made Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt household names is no more going to be a part of Olympics from the 2020 edition. Probably one of India’s finest chances for a shout at an Olympic medal goes out of the door.
With India being a breeding ground for a lot of athletes and with more than 50% of the Indian wrestling contingent having a more than a decent medal prospect, this comes as a major setback for the thought-to-be-growing Indian sport.
When an athlete begins to transit from an amateur to a pro, he sees dreams of an Olympic berth and a podium finish with his country’s national anthem playing in the background. With wrestling being scrapped, so are the dreams and so, futile may be the future of the sport that promised so much to the nation.
Wrestling now remains as a potential ‘additional sport’ while WWE, a sport not really a sport, with just an extra E (Entertainment) going strong.
Wrestling, removed from the 2020 Olympic calendar, clearly tells you there was no one to lobby for Sushil Kumar and company in the 15 member IOC Executive Board. These decisions are all politicised. The wrestling federation should lobby hard for the May meeting and demonstrate how popular the sport is across the world, that 140 plus nations play it. India should help it big time. That’s how the sport can be retained in the Olympic calendar in September.
India should well look into getting IOA back and lobby hard for the heritage sport. For this to happen, politics have to be thrown out of the federations and associations and only act as felicitators so that they could help vouch for more financial help.
After all, it’s a matter of national pride and the future of millions of Indians.
All an Indian can now say is Bye Bye IOA, hope to see you back soon; CLEANER!
Even the Indian football team is on an all time low and having lost to Palestine lately, the criticism is stronger than ever and the urge to help and work on it stronger.
Cricket is probably the only sport going strong, albeit with certain hiccups, but that is the only sport probably going to give us some joy in near future if things continue as they are.
Women’s sport playing second fiddle
Now, again, all we talked was of the men’s team. Just as I kept the women’s side of sport down in the article, the associations seem to have this low down in the pecking order.
With Indian women bowing out of the World Cup following a first round exit, many raised their eyebrows on the fact that BCCI being the strongest body and possessing all the money in the World, doesn’t work more on the women’s team, which is more than capable.
Even the Indian captain and ICC chief blamed BCCI for India’s dismal show at the biggest event in women’s cricket for not having a proper structure and calendar for women.
Also, a month back, Guwahati saw a 20,000 strong crowd cheer the women’s football team, but nothing from the federation. Though this is a fact hidden from none that AIFF is craving for funds, but whatever they get, a little should be allocated on the fairer sex as well. The Indian Women’s team is ranked 59th in the World contrary to Men’s 166th, showed glimpses of their talent and ability by beating a second division Dutch side – which may not be a big thing, but the little things do matter.
Even the likes of Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal made India proud at London, with them being a reason for the hoisting of the tri-colour, but they have managed to come up on their won with little help. This leaves everyone to ponder that only if they got more support, things could have been brighter and better.
All in all, this is for the associations to rise and government to realize their roles and take all stakeholders together in the upsurge of Indian sports; what every Indian dreams of.
The only sport that has risen well is hockey with the Hockey India League seems to have revitalised the game. Both Indian men and women are doing well in the World Hockey League, but what good if they cannot participate in the Olympics.
But with the system in place, it wouldn’t be wrong to say- IOC, you suspended IOA. Now only if you could round the officials, take a javelin and…oh well, one step at a time!
With Sport Minister optimistic and working, let’s hope for a better tomorrow for Indian sports, only if sense prevails!
