Where is Sri Lanka sports heading in 2022?

The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka ( NOC) elections possibly heralded the general lay of the land in so far as sports in our island paradise is concerned. With the general public buffeted by a spate of economic woes, the impact on sports at large cannot be far away, that only the survival of the fittest may stand the test of time!

The NOC President, Secretary and Treasurer all returned to office unscathed with the pretenders to the throne not even sure why they ran at all. One sage who is fond of rackets apparently donned the gloves on behalf of a mate, but was stuck in his corner much to the embarrassment of his (National Sports Association) NSA!

Be that as it may, the incumbent officials of NOC have received a mandate to get on with the job, bearing in mind that two important events confront them midyear; the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, both of which will be the also be an acid test for the High Performance Programme initiated and led by the Ministry of Sports (MoS).

The MoS recently re- examined its High Performance Unit (HPU) athletes and apparently trimmed the cadres, dropping many who they felt were not making the cut. That is a fair take, given the limited funds available and therefore the need to put it where its mouth is. From now on, it is critical that both the MoS and NOC combine their resources to ensure that only the most qualified go to these two mega competitions.

Already the lines are drawn and those who also ran are jostling to join the bandwagon. Those who have no clue about their charges, simply align with the powers that be, while some merely claim that it is their turn to travel. The MoS and NOC must clearly screen all athletes as well as the team manages and coaches to ensure that only the very best most knowledgeable and capable officials board the planes!

The ' nice guy' syndrome must end and the meagre funds available must cater to those who have the best chance of winning medals and honour for the motherland. The last run- around to the Tokyo Olympics was festooned with wild cards and what not! The NOC must take the lead here and a no-nonsense veto from the NOC President himself must set the tone for the composition of the Sri Lanka contingent.

Apart from these premier international events, it is time that the MoS and NOC work in tandem to put together a long-term plan for all national sports. To do this effectively, we reiterate the need for a National Sports Portal that captures the recurrent status and performance of all national athletes including their supervisory managers and coaches. What this discipline will do, is to monitor progress objectively and provide the related transparency to ensure that performance and results are the key criteria for a berth on the national stage.

The National Sports Selection Committee ( NSSC) can take the lead in this exercise, which is in fact their responsibility and work closely with the National Sports Council ( NSC) to establish this coterie of sportsmen and sportswomen. These athletes and officials must be contracted and properly rewarded with housing, transport, clothing nutrition and medical facilities, in order to facilitate a measure of comfort and convenience in keeping with their recognition as national assets.

Close tracking of their training and performance in comparison with the international standards of each sport will help stay in contention even as the various international competitions arise from time to time. That degree of professionalism will be key to any dividends we seek from the investments made.

Perhaps, another important element that the MoS must carefully consider, is the classification of the multitude of sports and its associations that have arisen over the years! There is absolutely no merit in funding and supporting every NSA registered with the MoS. A Level 01, 02 and 03 grading will allow the MoS to allocate resources sensibly based on KRA’s that each NSA fulfills. While, there is no gainsaying that sports must be encouraged, there is surely the wisdom of focusing our attention on the sports where we have the best chance of universal stardom or at a minimum, a competitive worldwide position from which to engage!

The MoS must in fact move away from the bureaucratic quagmire which stifles its creativity and lock horns with the NOC in driving these fundamental developments in our national sports arena. That may be the way to go in 2022.