E-Paper
Intent crucial, not tenure
Any entrant picks up a sport with the sole aim of representing the country one day. I too am not an exception. So, I can understand what Indian sport will lose if we are not allowed to compete under the India flag in the Olympics and other multi-discipline events, writes Yogeshwar Dutt.
Any entrant picks up a sport with the sole aim of representing the country one day. I too am not an exception. So, I can understand what Indian sport will lose if we are not allowed to compete under the India flag in the Olympics and other multi-discipline events.
Frankly, I don’t know the exact technicalities involved behind the ban imposed on the Indian Olympic Association by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but when the Indian officials meet IOC officials on May 15, I want the ban to be lifted. Moreover, the ban should serve as a lesson and all sports federations should have a proper system in place so that this awkward situation does not arise again.
Committed to the job
Before taking up a job either in the sporting arena or a federation office, the most important thing is that the person should be fully committed to the task and knows his or her responsibility. Only then can we expect desired results on both fronts. It is only honest commitment that can make a difference.
Why this issue?
Of late, there’s been talk of limiting the tenure of federation officials to a maximum of three terms. I want to ask, why limit the tenure? If the official is doing a good job, he should be allowed to hold the post for as long as he is focussed on the betterment of sport. If he is not performing, he should be shunted out immediately. There is no logic in waiting for him to complete three terms.
Accountability must
As the government funds the federations, it has the right to seek a scrutiny of the federations regularly. After all, it’s public money and someone has to be held accountable for the running of sports bodies.
The writer won bronze at the London Olympics in 60kg freestyle wrestling
