Jan. 23: Sports Minister M.S. Gill poured cold water over expectations of the Commonwealth Games 2010, New Delhi being hosted on a grand scale. He said that the event should not be compared with Beijing ’08 which involved a huge sum of money.
"It’s better one does not compare it with Beijing. As many as $50 billion were spent for the entire event," Gill pointed out at the sidelines of the inauguration of a swimming pool at the Sports Authority of India, eastern centre on Friday.
"The Commonwealth Games too are important and the work behind it seems to be going on at full speed. We’ve also set up a coordination committee for reviewing the progress."
Gill stressed on the need to improve the standard of football in India. "In 1956, we made the semifinals in the Melbourne Olympics and today, we are languishing in the 150th position or nowhere. We must revive the sport and take it to where it was five decades ago."
Besides, he hinted that "inexpensive" games like volleyball, basketball and athletics as well need to be promoted. "You just need a ball to play football, basketball and volleyball which cost almost nothing. Even (US president Barack) Obama does not have to spend money for the promotion of basketball.
"For athletics too, we don’t need to spend anything. Rather, it’s about taking a cue from the Kenyans who keep running and beat sportspersons from all races," Gill said.
Like every other sports lover, he sought the revival of hockey and dismissed the possibility of the sport being stripped of its ‘national game’ status. "How can people think of according cricket the national game status? No doubt, cricket is hugely popular. So, let it remain where it is.
"Back in the olden days, legends like Vishwanath, Vinoo Mankad and others hardly had any protection while batting as compared to cricketers nowadays who are all covered up to face 90mph stuff," Gill commented.
In addition, he announced the revival of pension schemes for ex-sportspersons, scrapping the old three-year policy. He criticised the prevailing scheme of pension for three years.
Source: http://203.197.197.71/presentation/leftnavigation/news/sports/%E2%80%98cwg-2010-should-not-be-compared-with-beijing-2008%E2%80%99.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment