International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

Sports and Politics in BMallikarjun C Pujari & Vijay kumar S.D 1Assistant Professor of Physical Education (Contractual) College of Forestry Sirsi Karnataka 2Guest Lecturer,Govt, First Grade Degree College, Jewargi Karnataka

 Abstract given rise to popular personalities such as , , Apart from the rich culture and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, diverse arts presence, India has , , tremendous experience in different , Dilip Vengsarkar sporting activities such as athletics, ,, etc.Apart , shooting, hockey, chess, from the players the sport has given badminton, boxing, golf, kabaddi, rise to the popularity of coaches and wrestling, swimming etc. Besides this even commentators. Cricket players the country has respectable are given a lot of attention by traditional sports such as boat the media and advertising companies. racing,kushti, gilli-danda and India wins one match against others. But the most popular sport in or Australia and there goes the country is cricket. This sport is the line of cash prices and cheque’s played at all age groups starting from being showered on them by ministers the grassroots right up to the and state governments. Even in terms international level. The game has of incentives, the other sportsmen and

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1352

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

women lag far behind the cricketers. Once the Sports Authority releases Involvement of politicians in sports funds for an event (which has to be a wouldn't have been such an issue had very large amount since it is usually there not been corruption everywhere either for cricket or for hockey), the our politicians are involved. money passes on from one hand to the Key word- politics. Government, other, each one stealing from it a few management crores. The dates of the event come Introduction near and there's no sign of the preparations hence more funds are To start with, all the major released. It is usually after the second positions in the association of or the third funding the the work is different sports is given out to the finally done ( for eg. Commonwealth politicians who hold criminal records Games). or have no background in that particular field by the Sports Moving on to the various Sports Authority of India. For eg. Lalit Federations, the common trend one Bhanot was elected the Secretary can see is that these have been General of Indian Olympic controlled by particular families (of Association in 2010, despite being in politicians) for decades, as if it were jail for a year. Usually the ex their ancestral property. For instance, beurocrats and the politicians (who the Cycling Federation of India is have no idea about these sports, for under Parminder Dhindsa of Akali eg. The Ex BCCI chief N Srinivasan) Dal and Sukhdev Dhindsa's son fill the pockets of the selectors and presides over Punjab Olympic once they get the desired position, Association (to be noted that they fill their own pockets. maximum sum of money for weightlifting, hockey and Wrestling is

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1353

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

handed ot Punjab Olympic sports associations and federations we Association). Similarly, the Rowing went for some people who had Federation has been under Kamakhya achieved something in that particular Prasad's family for almost a decade sport, things wouldn't have been as now. After he stepped down in 2008, ugly as they are in present. his cousin presided over it and now Despite the numerous revelations it's his wife. Needless to say, neither about fraud and forgery being made of them held any experience in by the International Olympic Rowing. There are many more stories Association, the same culprits still like these in almost every other sport hold the offices in India. The problem you come across needs to be addressed from the One would be surprised to know that grassroot level and it lies in the lack for the preparation of athletes for each of sporting culture here in India. Olympic Games the Sports Authority of India releases 3,200 Crores. This Hockey is our National sport, but has might be quiet small sum compared to lost importance in the past few years; UK but even if 1/4th of this sum is it even failed to qualify for the Beijing actually put to use the results would Olympics. In the London Olympics have been much better than just one 2012 the Indian hockey team came silver and one bronze in 2016 out last losing all its matches. Not Olympics. only hockey, but tennis, football, golf, From the roots to the fruits, the Sports badminton all shares the same association here in India is adulterated pathetic condition. Neither are the with corrupt politicians. If rather than sponsors interested in financing them, picking politicians to preside over nor does the government raise enough

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1354

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

funds. The Hockey team receives a including the 2014 Winter meagre sum for every goal that they Olympics and, more worrisome from score, whereas those given to the India’s perspective, the 2016 summer cricketers do not require a mention. Olympics in Rio. It is really shocking Even football has lost its importance to see politicians and ex-bureaucrats to a great extent except for Goa and holding positions as Chairman and West Bengal; no other states are Committee members for several interested in football. In short, decades most of them having no clue no except cricket is well about the sport in general With the managed. Indian sports are trapped government of India pumping several in politics. New controversies arise crore rupees into the various sports almost every week. bodies for promoting sports and encouraging the sportsmen, these

sports bodies have become fertile The most recent embarrassment to ground for the politicians and ex- Indian sport is the suspension due to bureaucrats to make money. What is the fact that officials tainted by even more disturbing is that even after corruption charges win influential the stinging observations made by the positions. For example Lalit Bhanot, international Olympic who spent 11 months in prison after association, the office bearers are still allegations of corruption following holding on to the positions and have the 2010 games, was elected as not thought it necessary to quit the Secretary General of the Indian job. Olympic Association. If the ban is not Dynasties seem to rule Indian overturned, India will be banned from sport. There are many examples that competing in any Olympic events, show how politicians and their

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1355

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

families run committees as if it’s a of the Tamil Nadu Cycling family get together. Parminder Singh Association, World Squash Dhindsa of the Akali Dal is president Federation, the Tamil Nadu Squash of the Cycling Federation of India and Rackets Association and the vice- the son of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is president of the Tamil Nadu Olympic currently president of the Punjab Association. Jadgish Tytler, a Olympic Association. The Chautala Congress leader, has been at the helm brothers Abhay Singh and Ajay Singh of the Federation of India for have heralded an era of total nearly 20 years on a trot. “There is politicization of the sports federations. hardly anyone in the judo body who Between them, the two brothers dares to say anything against Tytler. control the Indian Amateur Boxing Sport’s is one area where India lags Federation and the table tennis behind even some of the poorest federation of India. nations in the world despite a huge In 2008, Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo pool of talented sportsperson. At the stepped down as president of the junior levels, our boys and girls can Rowing Federation of India. He was compete with the best in the world in replaced as president by his cousin, almost every sport. However when it CP Singh Deo. When CP Singh Deo comes to the senior levels, where the ended his term, he was succeeded by actual capabilities of our sportsperson his wife Rajlaxmi Singh Deo. are tested, we fail miserably.

Similarly is the case of N Those who suffer due to such sordid Ramachandran, vice-president of the conditions are the athletes, who have Indian Triathlon Federation (his wife the talent and desire to compete and is the president). He is also president excel themselves in the international

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1356

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

arena but they need to be given proper some of which you might not be grooming and training which they knowing: have been denied. The ugly Government is not involved in conditions in the sports bodies have management of sports: been repeatedly revealed by several Sports is managed by respective stories such as the coaches National Sports Federations in India, misbehaving with women athletes, which are independent bodies that selecting people in the team based on organize competitive events, select favoritism and bribes etc. People in sportsperson to represent the state or India have been watching helplessly country at various levels, and help and with sadness, while the sports promote sports in different parts of authorities have been behaving as if the country. Government helps these they are not accountable to anybody federations (will be explained later), and neither the government nor facilitates their events and operations, anyone else can touch them. builds sporting infrastructure, and  Issue of how much the gives sporting awards. government is involved in supporting and managing Sports federations are autonomous sporting affairs in the country non-government bodies: The respective national sports federations Goel’s gaffes have especially are autonomous bodies, often compounded the issue of how much registered as societies in India just the government is involved in like the BCCI, and the government supporting and managing sporting has no role in administration or affairs in the country. So we thought appointment of members of these to present some facts in this regard, federations (except liaison officers,

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1357

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

who are appointed in consultation Olympic Association) and be with the sports ministry but are not recognized as a National Sports deemed government employees). Federation by the government. These national federations further have state level federations, all of Recognized sports federations which have their own rules, by-laws, receive assistance from the and their own constitution or charter government: This is where that guide their functioning and government comes into play for management. promotion and development of sports. Anyone can form a sports The sports ministry assesses federation: If you are a group of application of various national level people deeply passionate about a sport sports federations and gives them that you think is worth promotion in recognized status, after which they India, you can form a federation. can receive financial grants (under However, that doesn’t automatically various schemes) and other give you any privileges. To gain some assistance that include permission to privileges, it has to be affiliated to the use public infrastructure such as respective international sports stadiums and sporting equipment federation, e.g. All India Football for training and development of Federation is affiliated to FIFA. If the sportspersons. concerned international sports federation is affiliated to the IOC Even non-Olympic sports (International Olympic Committee) federations can get recognized by and it grants you the affiliation, your the government: While recognition federation becomes eligible to from the government is easy if a become a member of the IOA (Indian national sports federation is affiliated

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1358

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

to IOA, it is not a necessary  Conclusion requirement. In 2016, 49 national Even though, huge amount is spent sports federations were recognized, on training and grooming of the which includes non-Olympic sports players we still have not been able to like “tug of war” and “body building”. achieve the desired results. The prime Kho-kho and Kabaddi are popular reason for poor performances is examples of non-Olympic sports that corruption & political interference. are recognized by the government and Due to this many time a good player are eligible to get assistance. is left out. The government and the

Respective athletic boards are the BCCI never bothered to apply to main culprit for letting down India. become a recognized national Most of them are corrupt, lack sports federation: This is where professionalism and very biased. cricket is different from other non- However the fundamental problem Olympic sports. BCCI, which is lies in the absence of a sporting essentially the national sports culture in India. Sports in India are federation for cricket, never applied considered a secondary and for a recognized status from the supplementary activity. This explains government. This is why they argue to to a large extent, the apathy on the be kept out of RTI as they don’t part of the government machinery receive direct government assistance. towards sports. The corporate Back in 2011, they were invited by indifference too stems from the fact the then Sports Minister Ajay Maken that they are not sure that the to register as a national sports sponsorship money will be efficiently federation, but BCCI didn’t oblige. used in promoting the game and the

welfare of the players.

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1359

International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018

 Reference India". Comparative Politics & International Relations. Cosmos [1] M.Laxmikanth. Public Bookhive. pp. 129– Administration (9th ed.). Tata 134. ISBN 817729035-5. Mcgraw Hill. pp. 389– [6] Krzysztof Iwanek (2 November 390. ISBN 0071074821. 2016). "The Curious Stories of [2] "General Election Indian Party Symbols". The 2014". Election Commission of Diplomat. Retrieved 19 April 2017. India. Retrieved 21 May 2014. [7] "Election Commission Of [3] "Need for accountability in India Press Note". Retrieved 13 politics of March 2014. dynasty". www.dailypioneer.com. [8] [1] Archived 26 January 2012 Retrieved 2017-01-17. at the Wayback Machine. [4] Chhibber⇑, Pradeep (March [9] Priyanka Shah (1 November 2013). "Dynastic parties 2014). "13 Amazing Facts about Organization, finance and Atal Ji, the Bhishma Pitamah of impact". Party Politics by Sage Indian Politics". Topyaps. Journals. 19 (2): 277–295. Retrieved 16 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

[5] Prakash Chander, Prem Arora. "Nature of Party System in

Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1360