Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'IOC teaches IOA a lesson' that was published in Newsband

 

IOC teaches IOA a lesson

The International Olympic Committee suspending India has stunned many Indian sports lovers. This is a most sensitive matter.

It is sad that the IOC did not wait for the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) elections to take place before suspending India. It should have given a hearing to the Indian body before reaching a decision. The IOA is also at fault because it did not show the urgency or diplomacy that was warranted to deal with the situation. The IOA allowed things to just drift.

IOC took a rare stand against a National Olympic Committee because of what it perceives is the latter’s defiance. Factional fights within the Indian Olympic body have only helped divert the real issues that have plagued Indian sports administration for long, and delayed the reforms that are badly needed. IOC had always objected to government regulations dictating the IOA’s elections. The IOA’s inability to sort things out with the government has led to this unprecedented suspension in its 88-year-old history.

The Commonwealth Games scam, involving Suresh Kalmadi and Lalit Bhanot, has only strengthened the public perception that sports bodies need to be brought under government regulation, especially when government funds are being utilized for the development of sports. The courts have concurred with the government view.

Now both the government and the IOA will need to come on board to clean up the mess without harming the interests of the athletes. Indian athletes should get together and create a separate platform that will send a clear signal to the IOC, the IOA and the Government. It is high time we cleaned up our Sports bodies.

Just like IOC, BCCI should also be suspended by ICC since huge corruptions and political interventions are existing in BCCI and political leaders are getting continuously elected to the top post in BCCI even though they have nothing to do with cricket nor have they played cricket in their life time.

This suspension is a slap on the face of our corrupt sport officials and corrupt politicians. All the rules were being bent to their convenience. Hope this incident will open their eyes. This suspension, in the long run, might clean and improve the systems.

Some people are of the opinion that UN should debar India from UNO for not introducing proper Janlokpal.