New code of conduct for athletes

The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL), in a bid to strengthen discipline and improve the standard of local track and field, plans to introduce a new code of conduct for athletes, coaches and technical officials.

The AASL Executive Committee is expected to discuss this matter at the Ex-Co meeting scheduled for today. The new code of conduct for athletes, coaches and technical officials would cover a wide area, ranging from use of mobile phones to introduction of an official uniform for the national athletes.

It is a commendable move by the AASL, headed by Major General Palitha Fernando, who is also the Military Liaison Officer (MLO) of the Ministry of Defence. Fernando has been a strict disciplinarian, especially when he was in-charge of Army athletics. If he could do the same at national level and streamline the conduct of the athletes as well as the coaches and technical officials, which could well be the first step towards a new era in Sri Lanka track and field.

Discipline is an utmost important aspect, be it in sport or any other sphere. Over the years, we see a drastic drop in the levels of discipline in local sports arena. As a result, not only the basic values and principles of sports have been lost but has also caused for the deteriorating standard of several sports here.

New move

Hence, the new move by the AASL, if implemented properly, could well become one aspect which could lead to improvement of local athletic standards. It is the duty of all officials and athletes to extend their fullest support and cooperation to Major General Fernando and his AASL Ex-co to introduce a new code of conduct and implement it successfully.

There was a time even some elite coaches were 'scared' of some of our top national athletes. Fearing their top Sri Lanka athletes may quit and find some other coaches, several top most coaches have been showing a blind eye even when their top national athletes misbehave. All what these top coaches wanted to see was to keep those national athletes under their wings, no matter what the conduct of those athletes was.

The new AASL move would give a solid answer to those irresponsible acts as both the athletes as well as the coaches are to be governed by the new code of conduct.

We earnestly hope the AASL would be firm when implementing the new code of conduct. Irrespective of their personal achievements and future prospects, all athletes should be treated alike when implementing the new code of conduct. If we could discipline our athletes in a better manner, that would definitely lead to improvements of their achievements.

Best athlete

One could be the best athlete who has brought international glory to our country, but if he or she lacks discipline and conduct, there is no purpose of winning medals though such an athlete. That is not the real glory an athlete could earn. There are enough and more examples in the world circuit on firm action taken by several countries to discipline their athletes even at the expense of possible gold medals.

True that it's the medals that matter at the end. But medals should be earned and won with a proper code of conduct. Discipline should always come first and it's an important aspect in the basic goals of sport. Hence, it's the duty of both the athletes and officials to maintain discipline at all times.

Introduction of proper official attire is a must. It has been a long-felt need as our national teams were quite regularly criticised for not having a proper national outfit. There have been many instances where team officials go shopping on the eve of relay events to find suitable track kits for their athletes. That too was not because they were too keen in having a unified national kit but were compelled to declare a unified kit for their relay teams.

In contrast, we have always seen our neighboring Indians wearing their usual outfits, proudly displaying their national colours. Hence, the proposal to introduce a new uniform for the Sri Lanka national athletes would fulfill that long felt need to have a unified team with the lion crest proudly embossed on their competition kits.

Not only the competition kits, but also their training and track kits too must have one design so that it would be the proud identity of Sri Lanka athletes. That would not only give dignity and self respect to our national athletes but would also provide an ideal opportunity to find a suitable national level sponsor to meet Sri Lanka national pool's finances.

National team

If we could have the logos or product/brand names of the national team sponsor on their outfits, that would give a better mileage for the sponsor.

That would enhance the marketing value of the national pool when the AASL look for team sponsors. Not only the AASL but also the other national sports associations (NSAs) must follow the example set by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in giving the maximum mileage for the team sponsor. As in cricket, other NSAs too could introduce outfits with the sponsor logo even in training kits.

If the NSAs could give maximum exposure to their team sponsors and offer maximum mileage, it would not be an uphill task to secure lucrative private sector sponsorship to meet the finances of our national teams.

The AASL's initiative should be an eye-opener to other NSAs as well to put their houses in order. There should be a national code of conduct for their sportsmen and women and it's the duty of the Sports Ministry to introduce such and implement it through the respective NSAs. We strongly believe that the AASL's first move would lead to a disciplined local sports arena.