Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Randhir Singh has called on the national sports federations (NSFs) and state Olympic associations to concentrate on good, transparent governance, shunning self-aggrandisement and rising above petty politics.
In a strongly-worded letter to his fellow-NSF members, Randhir purported to have parroted the jargon used by the union sports ministry’s guidelines. Much of what he has said in his two-page missive appears to be a hint to the politicians heading the sports federations as he accuses them of petty politicking and self-projection.

“We must rise above our petty politics and show the world that Indian sports administrators are transparent in their work,” Randhir has said in his letter released Monday.

“The call of the day is good governance. The Olympic movement in India has to show the sports fraternity the path to excellence in administration — transparency in its working and above all free and fair selection and training of our sports persons — whom we have forgotten are the pillars on which stands the world of sports.”

Randhir wants a proper election criteria laid down and circulated well in advance to the sportspersons and former international sportspersons should be involved in the selection committee.

“Today our elections have become a bone of contention. We must lay down a proper election process which is totally transparent.”

“Funds received by us from government and private sectors must be properly audited and balance-sheets be put on our website,” Randhir has said.

Randhir has stressed the importance of sports persons getting to know where do they stand in the competitive world, seeding them periodically, so as to avoid frequent selection trials.

“Proper list of seedings of sports persons must be released every quarterly so as to avoid too many selections trials for international competitions. Training of sports persons must be closely monitored and their welfare be kept in mind.”

Last month the sports ministry, granted “annual recognition” to just four federations and kept 29 others under provisional recognition as most of them did not provide the relevant information stipulated by the ministry.

The NSFs have been asked to provide details on 22 points, including core issues relating to annual reports, audited accounts, conduct of national championships, selection criteria, role of government observers, appointment of coaches and participation in international competitions.