The Commonwealth Games organizers have been questioning the patriotism of people who accuse them of corruption, citing that raising all the stink in the public adversely affects the image of the nation.
The reason why Countries bid for mega events like Olympics, Asian Games and the not so mega event like CWG is to give a fillip to the athletes in their country. During the 5-6 years it takes from Games being awarded to it being held, prospective medal winners are identified and given the best of the facilities so that the host nation wins as much medals as possible. That and that alone will enhance the image of the host country, and not the organizational effciency (sic) as Suresh Kalmadi and his ilk make it out to be.
But with barely a month to go for CWG, do anyone of us know who are our medal prospects, how much effort has been put on training them and on putting them in the best frame of mind. I doubt it. At least do Indian Olympic Association know who the top athletes are? The answer is an emphatic NO.
Instead, what we have is a series of cases where weight lifters and swimmers are tested positive for doping (bringing shame to the country). The irony is that the Indian Weighlifting Federation has been in the radar of the anti doping agencies who are certain that doping is done with official patronage. The Federation was handed out a hefty fine recently, but IOA could care less. This is a national disgrace.
We have the situation where the only Indian to win an Olympic Silver, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will not be able to participate in the Games due to internal politics and silly selection policies.
We have the situation where our top athelete of the Games, shuttler Saina Nehwal, has expressed her total dissatisfaction with the facilities. The skeletons are tumbling out.
In the end, we will return with a bounty of medals that is much less than what we got in earlier Games - But hey! Who Cares? We have spent Rs 70,000 crores, everyone involved had made money through organized loot and what if Nation doesnt get medals and athletes are given Rs 100 rooms (if at all) apart from Rice gruel and pappad to eat?
And no one is held accountable!
What a Shame!
