By M.C. Linthoingambee
The 2G Scam, the Coalgate Scam and now, the SPORTS SUSPENSION! Sports are better defined in action than in words. I was stunned by the recent news in bold which read “IOC (International Olympic Committee) suspends (Indian Olympic Association) IOA”. Ever since we were little, sports have always been held with the highest spirits of sportsmanship and the journey of kinship through the medium. So, it is only fair that the show must go on. When we overlook the situation we see that ethics has always been a controversial issue in the administration of Sports in the country. Does election of fresh candidates for administration purposes serve as a beneficial factor? Or is it just the same administration taking control over and over with the change of a face? No one is clear as the idea of transparency has most often backfired in many occasions.
Everyone, most importantly the players of the nation are pretty much baffled by the news, but what more can we do than to hope that the situation gets a remedy underway. People very much like us choose to use the social media as one of means to spread this awareness wishing that India would indeed not be in the blacklist. One of such awareness is looked over through this site wherein the function is the spreading of messages withstanding that Indian Sports should not fall to corruption and seeking petitions through the platform of Change.org (one of the leading online sites where petitions are filed and signed by an indefinite number of online users for a better world) through the indefinite number of online users. Morality, diligence, honesty, tolerance, endurance, courage, etc yes, sports indeed has a number of adjectives to its credit and when we were taught of all these principles we were most importantly told to uphold these good deeds otherwise, a punishment would often await. Furthermore, the makings of biopic have also uplifted many spirits and the recent one in the showbiz being: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the story revolving around the life of the Milkha Singh, also known as the flying Sikh who once awed the world with his record breaking performances. What served as an inspiration then is slowly curving its way to the spirits of corruption.
A country is based served in our hearts and the determination of a ban on the IOA has been announced on 5th September, 2013 by the IOC. Officials confirmed that several steps are being taken to resolve the issue but we still stand saddened by the thought that we shall no longer be able to say our true name while winning a game if the authorities do not come up with a solution soon. Though delighted with the recommendations made by the IOC and the factor of bringing development criteria for the Indian Sports Fraternity we are saddened by the thought of going unethical as most authorities of the IOA carries and overload of a number of framed charges. Where sports serve as one of the most transparent backdrop, what good would it do if it results into creation of more frauds. While police investigations proceed against the authorities there are evidences to serve their fraud in which they are liable to go for trials. Would it be a longer dream to consider sports to be run by proper sports ethic and the spirit of a true sportsman?
It is indeed a desire to further the frauds from the crux of sportsmanship, and the manner of the game. Wherein there have been ideas that we further strengthen them with the increase of executive council members, it should also be seen that the voting machinery be exercised in nothing but the most careful manner as it should naturally progress. If we perhaps follow the voting machinery inscribed by the IOC we can achieve this success. The methods of observing the stipulated rights come with the structure of restricting the age limit to a maximum of 70 years on all members of the IOA as stipulated in Rule 16.3.3 of the Olympic Charter and not limit it to only the President, Secretary and Treasurer. Restriction on tenure must be in accordance with Rule 19.2, 19.3 and 20.1 of the IOC Olympic Charter which restricts tenure of all Executive Council Members to a maximum of 8 or 12 years as the case may be.
But as matter subsides and a conclusion has not been reached, than Indian athletes will be able to represent India in International Competitions in their respective sports especially in events such as the Olympic Games but only under the International names but not as the National Flag and National Anthem. Let us not crash the dream of those many athletes who have only dreamt of this dream of recognition of raising the Indian Flag. We can only hope and pray that IOC does consider the spirits of its athletes before taking a foot down for India. Before you go anywhere, the next Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo in spite of its radiation worries in Fukushima so if you want to go, fly away in 2020.
(M.C. Linthoingambee is an undergraduate pursuing B.Com. LL.B(H). An avid blogger, poet, a seasonal artist and a foodie, she is also a life member to the Indian Society of the Red Cross.)