What next, Olympics?
Sports officials should only have a 3-year term says ERVELL E. MENEZES
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After the successful running of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) we are on a high and the next logical question will naturally be when are we hosting the Olympics. But that is easier said than done as the pre-CWG obstacles so correctly proved.
Commonwealth Games president Mike Fennell admitted that he was even asked when he would announce the cancellation of the Games. That’s how bleak the picture appeared to be just weeks before the commencement. “No, don’t criticize the press. It was their writings that led to correcting the mistakes to make it a successful event,” he said bluntly.
Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, however, is a different kettle of fish. Facing numerous charges of corruption and tolerated till the completion of the Games, he is still under the scanner. To embellish his already tarred reputation he called Prince Charles “Prince Diana” (doesn’t he know the difference between male and female names?) and named the Mayor incorrectly.
The trouble with these sports officials is that they stick to power for too long. An outer limit of three years should be made mandatory. Kalmadi quoted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru by saying “success doesn’t come without setbacks” which in this case is a clear understatement. Being a sports official his command over the English language too should be better or else he will be no different from the hockey officials who attend international meetings. They are not able to exchange even a few words and therefore fail to make a point when rules are summarily changed to benefit the European pattern of the game.
Kalmadi has also been snubbed during the CWG and now has to face the music for his errors of omission and commission. The probing panel is headed by former Comptroller & Auditor-General (CAG) V.K.Shunglu who will have to submit his report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh within three months.
The OC has been asked to show all the documents to agencies probing allegations against corruption. A slew of investigating agencies – from the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) – that have been working in tandem are set to bring the entire OC, its contracts and works in the ambit of a sprawling investigation.
We sincerely hope the deadline is kept and appropriate section taken against the guilty. It should be a deterrent for future events of such a magnitude. Accountability should be the keyword. Too often have we seen panels set up but the findings never known or at best gathering dust in bureaucratic files.
As for the sports events are concerned we fared much better than in previous CWGs and ended up second after Australia. Saina Newhal did us proud by winning the last gold that clinched second place. She is a true champion and may she keep away from the flare of fame unlike her near-namesake Sania who is now just “garam hawa” but still manages to get more than her due in the media.
In the field events we also scored well, specially shooting, weight-lifting. In hockey to we did well to win the silver medal, the first time at the CWG. I saw the game against England and we played quite well. Of course it is no longer the game of old (you can turn round and around, only a lady partner is missing) and the artistry we were noted for has gone out of the window. Our Spanish coach Jose Brasa has done a good job and should be given his due, not snubbed by not inviting him to meet the Prime Minister. However, the final loss by eight goals was quite shocking and probably a record, dubious no doubt.
Even Australian hockey coach Ric Charlesworth (a former Olympian) has blamed our bureaucracy for our dismal deterioration hockey standards. He was particularly critical of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and he should know because he did a brief stint (a few months only, before pulling out) with the Indian team.
That’s the trouble with Indian sport where we are only obsessed with cricket with its big money and even bigger scams. Where is former India Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi now? Well and truly on the mat. His biggest mistake was his encounter with Shashi Tharoor. It opened a whole can of worms and the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) finally decided to act, after giving him a long rope. Now Modi is a persona non grata and even his passport is being impounded because he was out of the country for quite a while, But why in the first place give him so much unfettered power and this too after his dubious criminal reputation abroad.
For me the IPL is akin to the great Roman spectacle of throwing Christians to the lions, a massive tamasha were all the wannabes got together, more to be seen than seeing. The “chota rajas,” page 3 folks who pay Rs 1 lakh for admission to the after-match parties. Why, even industrialist Vijay Mallya spoke in favour of them and wanted them to be continued. Some priority, this? Is it any wonder that the cricketers too tend to fall prey to these distractions and Yuvraj Singh seems to be going the Kambli way? We have a whole set of youngsters like Suresh Raina and Co who are not only knocking at the doors but have already acquired a certain status both in Test cricket and other formats,
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” my guru Frank Moraes used to say, so does money, because money begets power. But why do politicians also join in all this. Haven’t they their own role to fulfill? Why is former Maharashtran strongman Sharad Pawar messing about with the BCCI?
Should he not devote his energies to his Agriculture portfolio? It is in a shambles and he could well have been stripped of the portfolio for his failure to perform. He may have been the youngest Minister at 31, the youngest Chief Minister at 38 with Progressive Democratic Government (PDF) but that was all light-years ago. It’s time that he is made to see the writing on the wall, if he does not see it himself. That’s what administration is all about. It is the higher echelons that have to call the shots.
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As the world turns
By Marc de Souza
One season following another, as the sweet song from Fiddler on the Roof so deftly describes our slow but steady progress through life.
It seems only the other day we were singing Christmas carols and merrily welcoming in the New Year. Valentine Day in February gave a special excuse, if one was really needed, to tell those you love how you really feel. A sentimental break perhaps, but there is nothing quite like hearing it. Also Carnival, a colourful 4-day festival, of revelry and fun, celebrated around the world, although it varies from country to country. Carnival culture was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese. Tourists come to Goa in droves to join in the celebration.
Then comes boisterous, windy, March with its rushing winds to bear us into the long and sometimes doleful weeks of Lent. March is the time to pay taxes and renew commercial licenses.
April is exam time and to some it is a busy school year. April is a good time to look into what living in the light of the Resurrection of Jesus should mean for us. If we are an Easter people, as the early Christians claimed, we would better have something to show for it. What we should show, first of all, is joy. This is totally in line with what Jesus spoke about so often and promised so fully to his followers.
April is followed by fiery May. Most of us do not need a reminder that this month is especially dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. So whether you are one of those who longingly recall May processions and novena devotions, it’s a time of celebration that will bring you nearer to Mary and therefore to her son. After all “to Jesus through Mary” is more than a slogan. It’s the absolute truth.
May is one of the delightful months for school children. A month of holidaying; endless days at the beach and long nights hanging out with friends, which can make the most tired parental heart both sing and whimper in the face of their boundless energy.
It’s June again and is still a very popular month for marriages. Also, school expenses. In June the monsoon bursts forth with its fury. The rain is observed in its cosmic complexity inspiring awe and elation, frustration and depression. It is accepted as a part of the annual cycle of life. It’s the time to rest on your oars. The monsoon reaches its climax in July.
The month most hated by the poor is comes to a close on August 31. In Portuguese there’s a saying: “Agosto, mes de desgosto“- August, a month of grief.
September is loved by all, because it fills the granary with the products of the new crop. It is known as the month of flowers, bringing mirth and joy. It is when the Hindu community celebrates the birthday of Ganesh, with a spirit of openness and goodwill which reflects the goodness of the Hindu way of life. Lord Ganesh is a God of good luck and wisdom, remover of obstacles and a patron of learning.
If you think you detect a strong missionary strain at this time, it is because October is the month of the missions, when we are reminded of the clear command of Jesus “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news”.
November is a colourful month, what with Diwali, the festival of lights and all things nice, light over darkness. In this month the Muslim world celebrates Bakri-id with thanksgiving and praise to Allah. Of course, December means Christmas and Christmas gifts; for Christmas comes but once a year.
What we need is a month that’s free!
