Good sense prevails at last on beleaguered IOA
Thankfully, the Indian Olympic Association has finally seen reason and agreed to amend its constitution to shut the doors on tainted officials. The IOA had been suspended by the International Olympic Committee after the former failed to bring in changes in the constitution to bar officials charged by the courts from contesting elections. The decision had effectively meant that the Indian team would not be able to participate in the prestigious event until it agreed to follow the guidelines the IOC had laid down — guidelines which member-countries were mandated to follow.
In the months following the suspension, there had been a sense of misplaced belligerence among the various officials of the IOA who believed that the international body's decision was mere posturing and that the IOC would eventually dilute its aggression. But that did not happen. On the contrary, the IOC toughened its stand and issued the virtual ultimatum that India would be thrown out of the Olympics if it did not mend its ways. The IOA went on the back foot after many respected serving and former sports personalities pitched in with their criticism of the manner in which a clutch of officials in the association was holding the body and the country's reputation to ransom. As pressure mounted, realisation dawned on the recalcitrant officials that they had to fall in line. It's taken a year for sense to be hammered into them, but then, better late than never. It can be hoped that once the constitution is amended, Indian sport will get cleaner and the country's meritorious sportsmen and sportswomen will get the due they deserve. All through, the bipartisan view was that the IOA had no right to jeopardise sports careers of the country's athletes and that it must do whatever it takes to protect and promote their interests. Those interests came close to be finished before the IOA pulled back from the brink.
One wonders why the IOA took so long to understand that accountability and transparency are the cornerstones of a good administration, and they cannot be compromised for whatever reasons. Corruption had apparently seeped deep into the country's sports administration, with certain vested interests entrenched in positions of authority not just for years but also decades, helping along. In fact, one important reason why a nation of one billion plus people has not been able to win enough medals in Olympics while smaller countries have fared better, is because of the rot in administration that impacted talent-hunt and the long-term grooming of such talent. Despite the odds stacked against them, sportspersons have done the country proud in the last few Olympics, and we need to boost this momentum. Responsive and honest organisations that are unfettered by political and bureaucratic interests, and are determined to follow their mandated task of developing and promoting sports, are best placed to achieve that purpose.