Chandigarh, June 11
The preferential treatment meted out to cricketers and cine stars at the Thursday’s Olympic torch function in Delhi has created furore and anguish among the sport fraternity. Though a word of appreciation has come from many on efforts made by the Indian Olympic Association
(IOA) in bringing the flame to India after a gap of nearly 40 years, the question being asked is why some of the top ranked present and previous athletes, such as Prakash
Padukone, PT Usha, Geet Sethi and others, were ignored for this coveted event.
Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, who was in Delhi today, said the Olympic flame had brought a sense of motivation among youngsters. He recalled that in 1964, when the torch had last come to India, he was one of the runners. This time, after four decades, he once again got the opportunity to be there to receive the torch. When asked to comment on why so many sportspersons were ignored on this occasion, Mr Milkha Singh said the IOA should have done its homework in a planned manner to include outstanding athletes. He said he had conveyed his feelings on the issue to the Union Sports, Minister, Mr Sunil Dutt.
This former athlete said the new Sports Minister seemed serious in improving the sports culture and had assured that next time priority would be given to sportspersons.
Mr Milkha Singh said he was not against inviting film stars, but the job of carrying the torch should have been left to sportspersons. He said it was an irony that in our country the officialdom took preference over sportspersons.
Mr Milkha Singh said the Olympic torch created a feeling in every sportsperson, urging the inner self to do something for the country.
Mr Randhir Singh, Secretary-General of the
IOA, when contacted on phone, said in almost all countries from where the torch had so far passed, people from all walks of life had participated. He said though the torch should have been carried only by those connected with sports, it did not mean that celebrities should not have participated. Mr Randhir Singh who is also the executive committee member of the International Olympic Committee, said in today’s marketing world, where all sports disciplines needed thrust in terms of money, interest of sponsors had to be watched.
He said they had tried to include most of the top ranked sportspersons. However, without adequate support from sponsors and depending only on the government budget, the development in sports might not be possible. He said India was on the verge of hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games where a large chunk of money had to come from the sponsors. He praised the media coverage given to the event by the print and the electronic media.
Dr JPS Sidhu, Joint Director, Sports, UT, said the Olympic torch had created a lot of awareness, but the way in which it was held presented reasons to question the treatment given to eminent sportspersons. Mr Sidhu said the torch had made general public aware about the Olympics and its message. He said cricket was not even an Olympic sport and inviting cricketers and leaving top athletes was not liked by people.
Mr Sidhu said all news papers had carried photographs of film stars on their front page and of outstanding sportspersons on inside pages.
