Deteriorating standards of sports a disgrace
The deteriorating standards of most of our national sports is a disgrace to our country and its people. It is tragic to see the unconcern of the officials to the steeply deteriorating performing standards. It is simply incredible that there are amongst us, people who don’t care a damn for death or destruction damage or decay to men and matter , plant or machinery , culture or civilisation – custom or traditions – the least of all 
sports and recreation. It is even sadder to note that such people are acknowledged or accepted and allowed to go the whole gamut, seeing and unfolding damage before their very eyes. Not to correct when one is palpably doing wrong, not to question or reason in face of failure, not to check and control in view of misdemeanor, not to probe or inquire into dereliction of duty which is tantamount to condoning the wrong.
The whole moral fabric of the people stands tattered and torn, resulting in the worst in individuals surfacing or the beast in men appearing. In brief humans transform themselves into a wriggling mass of worms twisting and turning over the other for several in dirty squalor. Having the simplest of cures in our hands in the form of bringing the offenders to book without fear or favour, we offer every possible cover and camouflage, to shield the guilty or the misfit.
In the rather long history of sports in the country there has been many instances of mal-practices ranging from fraud, deceit to deception, blatant irregularities has been highlighted, willful and deliberate acts of omission and a host of preposterous and horrendous acts of mischief have been committed while correspondingly penalties have been few if not nil. Until we are prepared literally to hang the offenders hot and high, serving as a strong deterrent to those who dare and the instant removal of those who fail to achieve results, our sports shall show only spasms of life and that too at a very insignificant level of competition which we witness now.
It the recently concluded Commonwealth Games held in Scotland our contingent consist of 141 participants returned to the island only winning a silver medal for weight lifting. Our contingent of 80 returned the country last week from South Korea after participating at the 17th Asian Games empty handed. Except for our cricket teams winning a gold medal for the first time after a lapse of 12 years and a bronze medal is indeed a consolation to the sports loving people of Sri Lanka.
At these Games our hockey team faced humiliated defeats in the hands of Pakistan 14-0, India 8-0 and China 6-0. The netball team was beaten by Singapore 59-41 at the Netball final. However we were qualified to play at the World Netball Championship.
When we take football, we got hammered by Maldives 10-0 at the South Asian Football Federation Tournament held in Nepal. In the recently concluded tour to Seychelles – an unrated and unknown team, we lost to them 3-1. At the AFC Inter Club Championship held in Sri Lanka – The Air Force FC lost to a club from Nepal 2-1. At the Asian Championship our Rugby team lost to Japan 103-10 and to South Korea 59-3. In the recently concluded Asian Youth Championship once again we lost to South Korea 31-28. At the 17th Asian Games concluded last week in South Korea we once again lost to Japan 40 -0, to South Korea 14-10 and battling for the 3rd place South Korea beat us 17-13.
All these facts and figures clearly show where we stand at international competitions. Usual excuse has already surfaced to our pathetic performance, such as not enough training, lack of facilities and nourishment, did not get proper coaches to guide technically, depend too heavily on few players and so on. All these matters would have been sorted out before leaving for a competition.
Sport defined correctly, is a technical subject and not necessarily an administrative one. Hence, there is a need to have technical expertise at every level of the sport, particularly in the thinking and planning stages. Unfortunately our Sports Bodies are riddled with persons without this requirement. As a result sports have suffered immeasurably in the hands of officials blissfully ignorant of the game they are involved.
Decades ago men of quality and fine stock holding office in the Sports Body kept the sport and administration on the right track. There weren’t any grants or sponsors either. All by themselves they worked so hard, find the necessary finances, keeping all the sports active and competitive. But, what of today? Two things determine this peculiar attitude of these officials. Firstly being non technical men, the depth of understanding was extremely shallow. Secondly the glamour and glitter the pomp and publicity in Cup Finals and closing ceremonies were the greater attraction.
The finances to run the affairs of the sports supersede all other priorities. No doubt finances are necessary to keep the sports organisations afloat. However, it must not be at the expense of the technical needs of the sport. When the sportsman and sportswomen are not properly trained, not properly nourished , how on earth can they perform well at international competitions.
However, when an individual or team wins a trophy or medal through their own sacrifice and effort not reflect as a result of organised planning and direction of the respective Controlling Body, the officials and the politicians never fails to welcome them at the airport, but if they arrive empty handed only their parents, wives and children were present to receive them.
Another stumbling block for the development of our sports is the involvement of politicians in sport. Mind you! Politics is not sport. The politicians have other areas to attend to rather than dabble in sports. They should certainly help the sport in its development, but should refrain from holding office, it’s best to be left with the laymen. We find in the past that some politicians made this their base for their personal propaganda. This should come to an end. Even if they do want to hold office, with the aim of genuinely developing sport, they will have be qualified to do so.
While the task of the Ministry of the Sports and his Officials is unenviable, in view of the soliciting for and in ordinate anxiety of most sports bodies to undertake foreign tours , a more pragmatic and effective control should be maintained by the Ministry. From a careful and honest analysis and study of some of the tours undertaken by our sports bodies in the past the ministry will be able to ascertain the intricate problems that have been created and assess for itself what we have gained from these tours. The insidious ways, in which some sports bodies circumvent the Ministry, the Ministry must study and review its rules and regulations. It is timely to set up a board of investigate consists of technically qualified personalities who has experience and knowledge of the sport. Future tours the Ministry must rigidly impose certain pre – condition before approval is granted.