Commonwealth Games' Preparation

Indian sports persons losing host nation advantage: Prof Malhotra

Archery Association of India (AAI) President Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra today expressed serious concern over the non availability of venues for practice to the sports persons who are preparing for the Commonwealth Games.

Not a single venue has been made available to the selected sports persons. Probables of all disciplines are forced to practice at far of places under unfavourable conditions.

"Our sports persons are losing valuable practice time. We are losing the advantage of being the host nation" Prof Malhotra said in a statement.

"Every host nation provides its sports persons venue facilities at least a year in advance but here despite spending billions of rupees on the games's infra- structure our sports persons have not been able to take advantage of it" he said.

Government has splurged money for building so called world class infrastructure, but much needed equipments for the sportpersons have not been imported.

Prof. Malhotra, who is also the Senior Vice President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), said his main worry was about the performance of the sportspersons in the games.

We have raised people's expectations and if we do not finish first or second in the medal tally it will be very embarrassing for the Government and sports federations.

He reminded that India did very well in 2002 at Manchester and 2006 at Melbourne. "We finished creditable fourth in both these games without spending so much of money and if now we do not improve our tally at home, then the people will raise the question regarding the very purpose of hosting the games".

The AAI chief cautioned the government about its repeated assertion that all the infrastructure is ready for the mega event and in this context quoted Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Michael Fennell's speech at Wagah-Attari border that still lot of work remains to be done.

"The delay is not only creating concern but also breeding corruption" he said and added that it is high time that Government instead of making tall claims should concentrate on completing the projects.

Prof. Malhotra said now that games are nearly 80 days away, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium and S.P. Mukherjee Swimming pool are yet not complete and "these two stadiums are the main venues for the Games".

He also lamented that government has yet not announced the hike in the prize money for the medal winners.

He said it is shocking that Government has reduced the prize money for this year's Commonwealth and Asian Games medal winners by 50 percent.

This has greatly upset the sportspersons. "I urge the Government to raise the prize money for the medal winners. It has to be higher than what medal winners got in 2002".

He said by making the announcement in advance, government will help the sports persons who will be further motivated to perform well.

"If government can spends Billions on infrastructure then why it is hesitating on giving few crore rupees to sports persons who are going to be the star performers" he asked.

Prof Malhotra also urged the government to withdraw the ill conceived sports guidelines. No body is accepting them, Badminton and Swimming federations have held their elections without bothering about these guidelines.

IOC, OCA and CGF have already warned the government against the dilution of autonomy of the Sports Federations.