The good part of all the associations is that all the office bearer are honorary, the reason being that they have love for sports and want to promote sports. But the irony is that people who are appointed to such posts do not have the basic welfare of the game in their ‘To do List.’ The person in question is none other than our beloved President of Indian Olympic association – Mr. N. Ramachandran .
On 28th January 2014, a PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the elections of the office barriers of the Indian Olympics Association . The base of the petition filed by an ex player regarding the top post of President and Secretary General who were representing a sport which was not even part of either the Summer or Winter Olympics.
The PIL was heard but the relief was not granted , the petitioner in the PIL in para 3 had expressed his concern regarding the casual attitude of the office bearers, and today that concern seems to be justified when we see the recent incidents of ‘ the march past saga.
We saw that even the basic need of our medal prospect team was not fulfilled and they missed the opening ceremony March past. The official bodies were more concerned on the appointment of the brand ambassador rather than looking into the basic necessity, comfort and facilities of our athletes.
This time India has sent the largest contingent to Olympics in the last 116 years of their participation with hopes of doubling the London Olympics tally.
“The view is concentrate on education rather than sport. The basic feeling is that sport doesn’t bring the money that is required to run a family”
N Ramachandran, IOA president .
The Prime Minister of the country gave a grand send off to all the participating athletes to encourage them to do well, but the most surprising encouragement and best of luck was given by none other than the President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in an interview to Justin Rowlatt of BBC , with the heading of Olympic losers: Why is India so bad at sport? published on 3rd August 2016.
In the interview our president clearly says , that “ sports is rarely at the top of anybody’s agenda- and that includes the athletes and their families. Most Indian families would prefer their children to be dentists or accountants rather than Olympians.
The most embarrassing statement given by a president on the eve of starting our campaign to win the medals was “The view is concentrate on education rather than sport. The basic feeling is that sport doesn’t bring the money that is required to run a family”.
Mr. President are you sending a message that all sportsmen who have gone to the Olympics are all lesser than dentist and accountants! And none of them seem to be running a decent family life as they do not have the money to provide for basic family life. These statements given by a person sitting at the helm of affairs of the Olympic association of the country is a direct insult to parents and sportsperson those who have poured their sweat and blood to win a medal for their country. The statement coming at this hour looks like a cover up by the president in case India’s medal tally does not improve than the earlier edition.
I wish that the PIL filed in protest for his nomination, we would have a better person to lead the Olympic moment in our country. After reading the above statements of his Mr. president, please answer your statements— the whole nation is waiting to hear from you.
The PIL filed by me was in the larger interest of the country to better the medal tally.
Hemanshu Chaturvedi is a sports guru.