Needed complete overhaul

The poor showing by Sri Lankan athletes in the on going 16th Asian Games in China needs an in-depth study. This is after so much planning and spending that went into their training and preparation not to mention the funds expended. It appears that our Sri Lankan contingent had gone to China merely to make up the numbers. Their performances so far indicate nothing else. The massive contingent of officials, managers and coaches and the rest of the bandwagon that accompanied these athletes too are obviously there on a joy ride at the expense of the taxpayer. There will no doubt be a post mortem as is often the case after every debacle and the panjandrums running the country's Athletics would trot out the usual excuses. There will no doubt be the usual load of suggestions and remedies and the matter would end there.

Sri Lanka has not been without its moments of glory in past Asian Games editions. There was the gold medal winning feats of such stalwarts like S L B Rosa, Sunil Gunawardena, Ediriweerasingham, T D A S Dissanake to name a few. All these athletes achieved their feats without the present day state-of-the-art facilities and performance enhancing dynamics. They also did not have the good fortune of corporate sponsorships or overseas scholarships.

There was also no financial rewards or the gifting of land, condominium flats and limousines to those who excelled. The only advantage they had at the time was the employment offered in top private sector firms to national sportsmen. Also there were no mega contingents that accompanied our athletes to these international events. Only those who mattered went such as the manager and coach. In any event the Sports Ministries of the day with their meagre resources unlike today were not in a position to finance such trips and there were no lavish private sponsorships to foot the bill for extravagances.

Yet with all that there was commitment and dedication on the part of these athletes to do well for the country and that was reward enough even though they received little or nothing by way of material rewards. Of recent vintage there were also the likes of Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damyanthi Dharsha and Sugath Thilakaratne who brought fame and glory to the country by their feats on the track. But sad to say since the exit of these one-time heroes and heroines the country's medal cupboard has been virtually bare.

Today our athletes are accompanied by a huge contingent apart from coaches and managers that include officials, medical staff, Sports Ministry staff and assorted hangers on sometimes even outnumbering the real participants. Yet our athletes with rare exceptions return home empty handed. This Asian Games will follow this pattern from what we are already witnessing. It appears that we have picked up our athletes at random to take part in the Games and carry the National flag at the opening and concluding ceremonies. It is obvious that they have not been put through their paces and most of them were not competition fit.

At least one of the athletes is already out of contention even without participating. His handicap was evident to all and sundry when he was seen limping at the Airport before taking flight. Here was a runner who was to take part in the all important 100 meters event and subsequent relays virtually crippled before even setting foot at the Games venue.

Who was responsible for including this 'passenger' in the final line up? Isn't there any one answerable for such crass irresponsibility and absence of proprietorship? This sums up the whole picture of what ails the administrative body running the country's athletics. They should be held accountable for the debacle in China and heads should roll.

For too long have the big wigs in our sports administration bodies taken things for granted in this fashion? In future their continuance in office should be based on results achieved on the field and not due to political or other connections that has nothing to do with sport. The country cannot be left to look the laughing stock in the international sporting arena due to such messing up by a few individuals.

We don't reckon to stray into the business of teaching those who matter how to build up our athletes. But common sense dictates that our athletes should be carefully guided and nurtured in their disciplines by dedicated professionals and not those who get in through influence.

They should be provided training and put through their paces years ahead of the event to condition them to the challenge. They should be given ample exposure internationally to hone and enhance their skills. Our athletes should also be adequately motivated through proper psychological conditioning.

More importantly they should not be pampered by gifting them with 'Sedans' that would only induce them into sedentary lives which is not the ideal preparation for an athlete.

Above all, the Government should step in to clean up the Aegean Stables of the country's sports administration as a whole by ensuring that only those with the necessary qualifications and the interest of the sport at heart be vested with responsibility and high office and weed out the deadwood and parasites who are feeding on the hard earned resources.

A complete overhaul of the sports establishment is necessary.