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Saturday, 11 December 2010

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The NOC its...:

Role and responsibility

With reference to the assertions made by the NOC chief Hemasiri Fernando in an interview and reported in esteemed newspaper under the caption 'Lanka must target 2018 Commonwealth Games', I am constrained to make some comments and observations.

I was amused by the somewhat desperate and convoluted arguments as to need to work with vision to target the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He has discreetly ignored the fiasco and debacle of the Commonwealth Games, and the reason for the pathetic sports men and women at the two mega international events. He in his assertions have manifestly demonstrated, that there is no necessity to ascertain the reasons and causes for our pathetic performances.

For the first time in 28 years the very large contingents of our sports men and women returned empty handed.

No right thinking person will dispute the fact that the overall performance of our athletes was pathetic, embarrassing and disgraceful. Aggravating the problem is the irreparable damage caused by the doping scandal of our boxer. All these have abundantly and manifestly demonstrated the ineffectiveness of our national sports controlling bodies including the NOC. The NOC cannot escape from its responsibilities considering the objectives of this sports body.

Priority

Before deciding on the formulation and plans for the preparation of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, initially it is necessary as a matter of priority to undertake a honest and meaning inquiry as to the reason and causes of the deplorable and the pathetic performance of our athletes at the two mega international sports events. The planning for the 2018 Commonwealth Games has to be based essentially on the findings of such inquiry. This is an essential pre-requisite.

(a) Contributory causes: Apart from what an formally constituted inquiry while it will endeavour to determine the causes, the following are some of the salient aspects that should be considered, these aspects are inextricably interwoven with Commonwealth and Asian games debacle.

Preparatory training

While it is accepted that the NOC is not a factory that produces medals' as asserted by the NOC chief, it has an inescapable obligation to facilitate and monitor the training by the national sports bodies. It must ensure that those selected for participation in international events are properly prepared and trained.

Other countries train for international meets three or four years ahead. In Sri Lanka the training is ad hoc. When will we ever learn to suitably train and prepare. It is pertinent to inquire in which way has the NOC provided for the training and development of our sports men and women.

Basis/criteria for selection

On what basis/ criteria were the selection made for participation in the two mega international events? Over the years sports men and women have been sent to represent the country without a meaningful evaluation of their performances in relation to the minimum expected standards. It is a waste of time, money and allied resources sending teams for mega competitions, if the proper standards cannot be met to ensure a medal. Further, a question that begs to be asked is why Sri Lanka continues to send large contingents knowing very well that majority of the competitors have not reached even the Asian standard.

(c) Drugs and doping

During the recent past, there have been quite a number of our sports men and women who have been detected for taking banned drugs, and disqualified. Apart from the humiliation and embarrassment to the concerned, the damage to the image of the country is immense and irreparable. Despite recurring incidents, it is pertinent to ascertain what meaningful action has been taken by the NOC and other national sports controlling bodies to: (i) Deter potential offenders, (ii) Advise and educate sports men and women of the ill effects, (iii) The consequents - deterrent punishment of offenders.

(d) Composition of sports contingents

Various sports bodies regularly send large contingents along with an chaperones for various sports events abroad. While this has baffled everyone, sports bodies, continue to send large contingents. It is evident that the NOC and the Ministry of Sports has been unable to exercise a meaningful control in this respect.

The excessive number of officials and chaperones who accompanied our contingents to the Commonwealth and Asian Games had a unique opportunity of witness the Games at the tax payers expense.

(e) Foreign tours

Another aspect very closely connected to the dismal performances of our athletes is the inordinate desire of our sports men and women and officials of sports bodies to go abroad for international sports events.

There is no sports topic in Sri Lanka, on which there has been so much controversies, disputes and allegations of abuse than on the subject of sports tours undertaken by various sports bodies. Presently controversy surrounds the intended composition of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association team for participation in Li Ning Youth Badminton Championship to be held in Singapore. The Association is planning to send a very large contingent.

(f) Development

While much attention and resources will be directed on infrastructure development, adequate priority should be affording to the development of our sports men and women, on well planned basis.

(g) Selecting/composition of teams

The composition of the teams for participation in the Commonwealth and Asian Games was disputed and criticized. Articles and letters have also appeared in the valuable columns of your esteemed paper. In view of the regular brickbats hurled at sports controlling bodies and the apparent nonchalant attitude adopted by some sports controlling bodies which continue unabated accepting and undertaking any invitation from abroad, it is timely that the Sports Ministry impose more stringent safeguards and also the NOC provide some effective guidelines in respect of participation in international sports events.

Future planning

While the need for planning for the 2018 Commonwealth Games cannot be over emphasized, it should be after a meaningful analytical study as to the causes for the pathetic performance of our athletes. All salient aspects including the sports administration, infrastructure must be carefully examined.

Last time that Sri Lanka faced a most disappointing period was in 1982 at the New Delhi Games. But Sri Lankan bounced back to perform creditably at the 1986 Seoul Games. This was because there was better planning in the subsequent years.

Everything is not lost for Sri Lanka, since Sri Lanka is bidding to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018. There will be a tremendous opportunities for Sri Lanka budding sports men and women to excel.

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