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Time for a turnaround

In his second term as president of the Karnataka Olympic Association, Govindraj is all set to take the State to pinnacle of sporting excellence with a little help from the government

Over the years, the Karnataka chapter of the Olympic movement has made its presence felt. It all started in 1958 when P.A. Joseph launched the ad hoc committee of the then Mysore State Olympic Association. Jeenabhoy Devdass took over on February 4, 1962 and held the reins till his death in 1977. Then it was the turn of the then ITI General Manager V.R. Venugopal followed by S.M. Khan, Shantakumar and Ajay Kumar Sarnaik. K. Govindraj, who took over in 2002 is into his second term. Govindraj made the right moves but the Association is yet to reap the benefits of his actions thanks to the political upheavals and the fall of two governments during his first term. "I sent the required files and letters to the government and the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) but no action has been taken," he says.

Govindraj is set to turn things around and has also chalked out pointers to the Government and the Sports Minister. The Ekalavya awards, in recognition of sports achievements at national and international levels are a classic example of bureaucratic inefficiency. The DYSS have often cited "lack of sufficient funds" as the excuse for not presenting the awards for the last three plus years.

Govindraj said: "The KOA has forwarded the list of awardees for sanction and approval and they have been cleared. Funds to the tune of Rs. 2 crore have been released and is with the DYSS, which is yet to act."

The presentation of the Ekalavya awards continues to be among the top priorities of the present committee of the KOA. "We are drafting a sports policy and will be submitting it to the government," Govindraj said soon after assuming office. "There is no sports culture in our country and no accountability. Once these are in place, there is no reason why we cannot be sporting super powers."

Talking of his recent visit to China, Govindraj said: "Sports is a compulsory subject in China, till the end of college. Sustained identification and coaching for over 10 to 15 years ensures a long-term talent pool. In Karnataka, we should be able to generate at least 40 per cent sports talent. For that to happen, the Government should make sports mandatory at school and college level."

"Where are sports at junior college or PUC level? Youngsters in the 17 to 19 age group go through a two-year lull before going for graduation. When they do not get admission into any professional course, they resort to sports during their degree course and by then two precious years have gone by."

In the Fifth Finance Commission, the Central Government has identified certain States including Karnataka for financial aid. "Aid of Rs. 25 crore per year for a four-year period has been instituted from this fiscal year mainly to create sports infrastructure at the taluks. Quite a lot can be achieved with the Rs. 100 crore, but the initiative has to come from the government's side. If the State is divided into four regions and each region is provided with world class swimming pools, synthetic tracks, velodrome of international standard and sports schools and academies in each region, there is no reason why sports will not get a boost and improve in each region."

Other issues that need to be dealt with include insurance for sportspersons, assistance to any unit or affiliated association to the tune of Rs. 25,000 (to be enhanced to Rs. 50,000 to conduct national events, conducting National Youth Games spread over the three districts of Bangalore, Mysore and Mandya, monthly pension scheme of about Rs. 1,000 for retired and needy coaches, constructing an Olympic Bhavan near Sree Kanteerava Stadium and replacing the Sports Authority of Karnataka with a sports council.

Govindraj stresses the need to provide incentives in the form of land and cash to prominent achievers from the State at the international and national levels as also the need for jobs to deserving sportspersons. Govindraj and his men have their task cut out and the next four years will tell if they have left their mark.

AVINASH NAIR

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