Context-

Dismal performance of India in the Paris Olympic 2024 has turned the focus on the nature and role of sports administration in India.

• India won six medals in Paris with no gold medals (one silver, five bronze), down from seven in Tokyo (one gold, two silver, four bronze). 
• Despite the decline, Paris was still India’s third-best Olympic performance, better than Rio 2016’s two medals. 
• Also, this decline contrasts with improved performances in other events like the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2021 Summer Deaflympics.
  • Thus, the recent Olympic slide highlights gaps in India’s sports ecosystem despite multiple initiatives taken to improve India’s sports ecosystem.

Key Organisation in Sports Governance

It encompasses several pivotal organizations tasked with overseeing the administration, regulation, and promotion of diverse sports

MYAS – Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the central government body steering sports policies, funding, and infrastructure development.

IOA – Indian Olympic Association oversees India’s participation in international multi-sport events.

SOA – State Olympic Association

NSF – National Sports Federation, govern specific sports disciplines, collaborating with governmental and international bodies.

BCCI– Board of Control for Cricket in India governs Cricket.

AIFF – All India Football Federation  manages football

NADA – National Anti-Doping Agency oversees anti-doping efforts

NIS – National Institute of Sports offers coaching and training.

SAI – Sports Authority of India, the apex national sports organization, manages training centres, talent identification, and financial support for athletes.

Rules and Regulations are there for Good Governance in Sports

• Sports Code 2011:
  • The Code was notified by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2011, with an aim of bringing together all notifications and instructions pertaining to good governance of National Sports Federations.
  • It is a set of regulations, which enunciate the ‘basic universal principles of good governance, ethics and fair play.’
  • It seeks to put restrictions on the age and tenure of the office-bearers of federations apart from envisaging transparent functioning along with free and fair elections.
    • The Code says that the Non-compliance with the regime of the law is against public interest.

• Draft National Code for Good Governance:
  • The draft National Code for Good Governance in Sports 2017 is a proposed set of guidelines for the management and administration of sports bodies in India.
  • It includes measures such as age and tenure restrictions for office-bearers, the presence of independent directors on the governing board, transparent and fair elections, and other measures aimed at improving transparency and accountability in sports bodies.

What are the key issues in sports management?

India won only one silver and 5 bronze medals from India’s contingent of 117 athletes went to Paris Olympic 2024 and got 71st spot in the ranking.

• Misgovernance of federations – Internal disputes, governance shortcomings and Third-party influences, not conducting elections in federations.
• Governing bodies for different sports have been suspended, warned or even banned by the international bodies including
  • All-India Football Federation (AIFF), the Indian Olympic Association and Hockey India.
• Many of the federations are now under the supervision of Supreme Court–appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), which is overseeing the body’s day-to-day affairs.
• Political dominance – Most of the boards and selection panel is dominated by persons from political grounds rather than sports background.
  • Out of 63 vice presidents (average of seven in each sport) of athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, hockey, archery, weightlifting, swimming and table tennis, only six have a sporting background.
• Lack of Spending – India spends just about Rs.3000 crore for sports which is 1.13% of China’s spending.

• Harassments –Physical and Sexual harassments against the sports persons by person within and outside the administration has not been addressed.
• Scams and Political Controversies – India has hosted only the Asian games  and the Commonwealth Games, which however was marred by alleged scams and political controversies.
• Lack of sponsorship – Games other than Cricket do not have much viewership and sponsorship.

India and Olympics

The IOA coordinates with National Sports Federations to send teams to the Olympics  and other international games.

India first participated in the Olympics in 1900 in Paris, represented by an Anglo-Indian Norman Pritchard.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was formed in 1927, with Sir Dorabji Tata as President, and it was recognized by the IOC the same year.

What lies ahead ?

• Prioritizing strategic investment, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering grassroots initiatives.
• Implementing an effective sports governance system as in China for shaping sports policies and strategies.
• Appointing sportspersons at lower level of administration and progressively enabling them to reach the top could be a good beginning.
• Mandating the presence of sportspersons at key decision-making positions.
• Effective implementation of Khelo India programme on mission mode

Sports Governance in India

CBL Practice Questions for Prelims

What is the main purpose of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011?

A) To promote private sports academies
B) To regulate sports federations and ensure transparency
C) To fund Olympic athletes
D) To organize national sports events

Answer: B) To regulate sports federations and ensure transparency

CBL Mains Practice Question

“Evaluate the role of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in promoting sports in India and its effectiveness in achieving its objectives.”

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