The disappointing performance of the Indian athletes and players in the Olympic, has made the people to think about the con­dition of sports in India. Despite our huge size in terms of popula­tion, we have not been able to leave our impact on international sports. Otherwise also Indian sports has not been able to achieve the standard which they were supposed to achieve. Athletes have been much below the standard and since the Olympic games started India has been able to bag hardly a few gold medals. Moreover, most of the medals were bagged either by our Hockey team or by our wrestlers. Does it mean that the people in India have no interest in sports and games.

In fact it has been again and again pointed out that politics in the Sports Organizations of India has spoiled the sports. The selec­tions are mostly based on favoritism and some of the outstanding sports persons are just ignored because they do not happen to be related to some influential person. Moreover, the sports bodies go on planning tours and matches fielding sub-standard sports person without thinking that the national pride will receive a serious set­back in case we are unable to win. Some of the Ministers and the political leaders want to be at the helm of affairs so that they may be able to embezzle sports funds. Under such circumstances, it is not possible to raise the standard of sports in India.

Another reason for the decline of sports in India is that we have been mostly concentrating upon the young people living in the cities. We have ignored the villagers, the tribal people and others. In fact those who live in the cities generally do not enjoy good health because of the polluted atmosphere and filthy environment. As they are brought up in the lap of luxury they cannot be hardily people. But in order to draw the attention of the villagers to sports we will have to have playgrounds as well as the facility for playing games in the villages. Competitions among the villages should be arranged periodically.

The sports competitions should be given much publi­city and should be organized on a grand scale. Similarly, some adventurous coaches should get hold of the tribal young people for importing training in the different fields of sports and games. Per­haps these people can participate in some of the sports events like long jumps, archery, high jumps and races in a more successful manner.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Sports persons in India have to suffer because they are not given proper facilities. Sportspersons need very rich diet and also certain other conditions which may develop their talent properly. Some of the top sportsmen or women are given jobs in good firms but the sportspersons of the lower grade are completely ignored. When they retire from active sports they do not have anything to fall back upon. No financial help is given by any institution. This discourages the young people from taking part in sports.

Above all sports facilities are not provided to the young chil­dren in big cities. They cannot play whichever game they like, only because they have to go to far off places for joining a club or a sports organization. There should be playgrounds in every colony and every child should have a free access to it. Moreover, competi­tions among them should be encouraged. It is better if some dynamic person should be given the duty of producing good sports­men or women. Till we make a definite policy for developing sports in India, simple training and coaching will not help them. There should be free exchange of sportsmen and women so that they are able to learn something about the international standard.