India's Olympic chief runs for cover amid woes
Source: Agencies |
July 28, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ALLEGATIONS of sexual misconduct involving two national coaches exacerbated the problems engulfing Indian sport and had the head of the Olympic association running for cover this week at the launch of the Commonwealth Games tennis center.
IOA president Suresh Kalmadi literally had to plead with Delhi's chief minister for safe passage on Monday to avoid a hoard of reporters demanding answers to questions of impropriety in national sports, including the sexual misconduct allegations against national field hockey and weightlifting coaches.
The New Delhi Commonwealth Games have been plagued by delays in the construction of infrastructure and venues, which should have been finished months ago but instead are just starting to come on line now, cutting it fine with competition set to commence on October 3.
The problems within hockey and weightlifting ranks in the last week have only sharpened the focus on trouble in Indian sports.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, the financial powerhouse in the international game, was already under investigation from federal tax authorities over perceived irregularities in the running of the immensely popular, multibillion dollar Indian Premier League. The head of the IPL is under suspension and investigation by the BCCI and the tax regulators, but denies any wrongdoing.
The problems involving the coaches haven't kept Kalmadi out of the spotlight. The leading figure in the fight against a recent government move to impose age and term limits on national sports administrators, Kalmadi has reportedly been described as the "dirty face of Indian sports" by a candidate running for the Hockey India presidency.
Former India captain Pargat Singh, who is contesting the hockey vote, accused Kalmadi of meddling in the running of national sports federations by promoting candidates who would follow his instructions or getting administrators bogged down in court.
On Monday, Kalmadi was confronted by a media pack trying to get his reaction to Pargat's comments.
After offering no comment - "Nothing to say, please ... please ...," PTI reported that Kalmadi had to approach Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and ask for an escort out of the venue. She made space in the official vehicle.
IOA president Suresh Kalmadi literally had to plead with Delhi's chief minister for safe passage on Monday to avoid a hoard of reporters demanding answers to questions of impropriety in national sports, including the sexual misconduct allegations against national field hockey and weightlifting coaches.
The New Delhi Commonwealth Games have been plagued by delays in the construction of infrastructure and venues, which should have been finished months ago but instead are just starting to come on line now, cutting it fine with competition set to commence on October 3.
The problems within hockey and weightlifting ranks in the last week have only sharpened the focus on trouble in Indian sports.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, the financial powerhouse in the international game, was already under investigation from federal tax authorities over perceived irregularities in the running of the immensely popular, multibillion dollar Indian Premier League. The head of the IPL is under suspension and investigation by the BCCI and the tax regulators, but denies any wrongdoing.
The problems involving the coaches haven't kept Kalmadi out of the spotlight. The leading figure in the fight against a recent government move to impose age and term limits on national sports administrators, Kalmadi has reportedly been described as the "dirty face of Indian sports" by a candidate running for the Hockey India presidency.
Former India captain Pargat Singh, who is contesting the hockey vote, accused Kalmadi of meddling in the running of national sports federations by promoting candidates who would follow his instructions or getting administrators bogged down in court.
On Monday, Kalmadi was confronted by a media pack trying to get his reaction to Pargat's comments.
After offering no comment - "Nothing to say, please ... please ...," PTI reported that Kalmadi had to approach Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and ask for an escort out of the venue. She made space in the official vehicle.
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