206 countries participate in Olympics with 11000 athletes representing them. The most advanced countries like China, US, Japan consider this platform a prestigious one to perform and demonstrate their skills and endurance in sports. Further Soccer(200 countries) , Basket ball (213 countries) and Tennis are the games which most countries promote.
There are 104 countries in which cricket is played and barely 20 nations which regularly involve. And still here we are promoting a sport invented by the country who ruled us for nearly two centuries. It seems like, their legacies left behind will rule us for another two centuries.We love cricket to an extent of even sidelining our National game – Hockey. We speak of its revival like a favour on the sport, 39 yrs, 41 yrs? Did it take us so long to count the gap? And the realization came in only when our teams entered semifinals? What an irony of our National game?
Playing cricket, golf is considered dignity. Athletics, Kabbadi and Wrestling our very own sports are considered below dignity and opted by the poor. What a tragedy of the thought process of such a huge democracy?
Olympics- Which gives recognition in so many countries is not followed closely in India. Probably cricket couldn’t be glorified enough this year due to pandemic, so Olympics is gaining some attention . The names of the players are not known or fade away after the game until there is a biopic released on some player. Athletes are treated like burden on the economy. They are denied of basic necessities. Their injuries, pain, struggle and their penance for lifetime is considered their fate. And here we remember 12th and 14th man in cricket. Even if their career is short, they have luxurious life on endorsements.Cricket players earn as salary minimum of 1 crore.
Usain Bolt earns 20 million dollar per year. This is how atlethes are treated in other countries.Our athletes’ struggle to earn in thousands and a decent lifestyle.
We want them to earn medals for the country.
What is our investment to expect such great returns from them when we dont have the will to provide even nutritional food or enough competition opportunities and exposure to them?
Whatever medals they earn are only basis their own struggle and zero contribution from our country and society. All we do is evoking patriotism and posting on our status their victorious pictures and forget their names after the event.
Things are changing. With what pace? What are our efforts and how many great inspirations we are going to subdue before the real change actually occurs?
Share this to evoke the thought process. A very small attempt.
-Sucheta Gour