Can a Naive Politician Help Improve Performance in Olympics?

If you do not have proven record of success in the related field of work, you are not eligible to hold any government position such as a minister. Unskilled ministers and bureaucrats are destroying our country. ~ Rakesh Raman

After India’s pathetic performance at the recently concluded Rio Olympics, the Indian politicians – who are clueless about sports – are wasting a plenty of time to know the reasons for disaster.

A discussion on the ‘Performance of India in Rio Olympics and Way Forward’ was held in New Delhi Monday to help India improve its performance in future Olympic Games.

The Monday’s discussion was chaired by a sports minister Vijay Goel and was attended by sports persons who have yet to show their consistent performance in the international arena.

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, recently announced at the meeting of the Council of Ministers that a Task Force will be set up to prepare a comprehensive action plan for effective participation of Indian sports persons in the next three Olympic games in 2020, 2024, and 2028.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, India sent a record number of 118 athletes who could win only 2 medals: 1 bronze and 1 silver. Woman wrestler Sakshi Malik won bronze medal in freestyle 58 kg category and shuttler P. V. Sindhu won a silver medal.

It is a common observation that various governments in India have been wasting money worth thousands of crores of rupees on athletes who continue to fail at international sports events such as Olympics.

In the past four Olympics (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), India sent 330 athletes who could win only 12 medals including only one gold.

It is believed that the Task Force that Modi has proposed will stop sending athletes in international events because most of them are giving a bad name to the country. Plus, the government has no right to squander public money at will.

Analysts suggest that instead of allowing an ordinary politician to manage the highly competitive sports department, the government should appoint a relatively successful athlete to spearhead the sports activities in the country.

Similarly, the other government departments – such as education, finance, commerce, technology, etc. – should also be managed by professionals who have proven their skills in the related area of activity. Politicians do not have any domain expertise to run a department.

Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau