Making SA Games a reality

The 10th edition of the regional South Asian Games is due to be held in Sri Lanka in August. However, Sri Lanka's dream of hosting the most spectacular ever South Asian Games may not be a reality, unless we accelerate our preparations.

The success of the Games could be measured in two ways - the smooth functioning of the organizational structure before and during the Games and the performance of our team as the host nation. Sri Lanka achieved both these goals successfully when we hosted the Games for the first and only time way back in 1991. Then President, the late Ranasinghe Premadasa, played a key role towards Sri Lanka's success in organising the most successful Games ever.

To add icing to that success, our sportsmen and women bagged as many as 44 gold medals. That is the very same target that we are looking forward to better this time around.

However, there are reasonable doubts in bettering that record gold haul when Sri Lanka hosts the Games 15 years after its inaugural success. As we have pointed out on several occasions, real preparations for the Games have not begun yet.

True that the National Olympic Committee, under the able leadership of Hemasiri Fernando, is making a hard effort in initial organisational work. But our preparations were badly hampered by the general and presidential elections and the political situation in the country. Even the various sub committees appointed have not been functioning properly.

Hence, as Chairman of the all-important steering committee, President Mahinda Rajapakse should be able to provide an able leadership. His presence and that much needed state patronage would inspire other officials in making the best effort to host the best ever Games.

Being a versatile sportsman during his day and father of three outstanding schoolboy ruggerites, President Rajapakse does not need any advise on this subject. He had first hand information when he attended the last Olympic games in Athens. Hence, he could provide that much needed boost to get our preparations going.

Some of the sub committees lack knowledgeable experts. Hence, they have hardly made any progress. The head of the Steering committee or the NOC cannot monitor each and everything. Hence, it is better to have men with proven track records for the specialised jobs in the sub committees so that they could function smoothly and independently.

There are people who are interested in seeking positions in these sub committees for their personal glory or with ulterior motives. They do not deserve any place in such committees. There are enough and more suitable people in our sports circles to fill these positions.

It is estimated that the Games would cost a sum of 905 million rupees. Though the critics would come out with various ideas and theories, it is an investment for the future. But what matters is to make sure every cent is invested properly and is accounted for. In 1991, then President Premadasa personally looked in to expenses of various sub committees and when he found the estimates were high, he was quick to slice them down.

We must cut down unnecessary spending and should keep a close eye on funds invested on infrastructure development. Any spending on upgrading sports venues should be made in a proper manner, not just some hurried work to make the contractors rich. We are not pointing fingers at anyone but would like to state it for the best interest of the Games.

More funds should be allocated to train our Sri Lanka national pools. The Sports Ministry funding should go immediately to the 19 national sports associations (NSAs) which field teams to the Sri Lanka contingent. It's the duty of those NSAs to use every cent to provide best possible facilities to training squads, not just lavish spending of officials.

There should be a central finance committee to monitor spending of all committees. Priority should be given to preparations of the Sri Lanka teams. It is the duty of the Sports Ministry to make sure their funding on national pools come on time.

The organisers should make sure that the opening and closing ceremonies reflect our own culture and heritage. Every effort should be made to ensure these ceremonies maintain Sri Lanka's identity as a nation.

In order to find the balance, funds are needed even after a huge state grant; the organisers should market the Games in a professional manner. They must use all channels to attract big time sponsors to meet huge finances needed. If a fair deal is given to satisfy sponsors with the best possible mileage, it won't be that hard to find a team of big time principal sponsors. Everybody should join hands to make our South Asian Games dream a reality.