16th Asian Games flop:

‘Suitable athletes not picked’

The K S Gunasekara Committee which was appointed to probe as to why the Sri Lankan contingent did not perform well at the 2010 Asian Games, states that the Department of Sports Development, the National Olympic Committee and the Athletics Association should create a competent policy to systematize the athletes’ training.

The Minister of Sports takes immediate action to implement the committee recommendations.

104 athletes represented Sri Lanka to compete in 22 sporting events at the 16th Asian Games that was held from 12 to 27 of November, 2010 in Guangzhou, China. However, Sri Lanka was unable to bring home a single medal. Taking this into account, the Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage appointed a special committee headed by a former Ministry Secretary K A S Gunasekara. The report findings were handed over to the Minister, at the premises of the Ministry of Sports (yesterday). The Ministry of Sports stated that there are several recommendations in this report. The reports states that the reason for the underperformance of the athletes at the 16th Asian Games was because the Department of Sports Development, the National Olympic Committee and the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka have not selected the most suitable athletes under a comprehensive plan for the most desirable events at the Games.

Therefore, the report suggests that from here on, they should focus on sending the best contingent possible. The report further emphasizes that the national sports selection committees should work with responsibility and discipline in selecting a contingent that is to represent Sri Lanka to the best possible level.

The Committee has stated that the sports associations and sports administration should take responsibility to not send athletes to sporting events merely to represent Sri Lanka to get international experience or for participations sake. The Gunasekara Committee emphasizes that in 2010 there were three different Games held consecutively, which are the South Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

As there has not been a proper training schedule to acquire the best outcome of the athletes throughout the three Games, most of the athletes have had to face injuries following the Commonwealth Games and have had to be rested. Therefore, the Ministry of Sports emphasizes that the committee has shown that owing to this reason, the talented athletes have not been able to showcase their talents at the 16th Asian Games in China.

42 sports were held at the Asian Games, of which Sri Lanka took part in 21 such sports, with 102 athletes and 31 officials. Approximately 25 million rupees were spent to send these personnel to these Games. The fact that Sri Lanka was not able to win a single medal and the fact that she was backward amongst the other Asian countries is a challenge for the future of the sports in Sri Lanka. From here, Sri Lanka should not take part in all sporting categories and the athletes should be trained according to a proper schedule. This, Committee states, will be more practical and will also reap better results for the country.

The Committee strongly advises that the sports administration inclusive of the Department of Sports Development, National Olympic Committee, sports associations, and the Ministry of Sports together should create a conclusive sports policy for the selection of athletes for international sporting events.

Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage, expressing his ideas after receiving the report, stated that after a comprehensive study like this, it would be unwise to let such an incident occur for a second time in the sporting field.

Therefore, he will be taking necessary measures to implement the suggestions and recommendations given in this report with immediate effect.