When a country comes forward to host Olympics, that also becomes an image-building exercise. File photoI am one of the crores of Indians who dream of a day when India will host the Olympic Games. This is not a question of patriotism or vain glory but a certificate from the international community that we have the expertise to organise a complex event like Olympics. The country’s prestige goes up globally once it successfully organises the games.
I have seen it in person in China, where an earthquake hit Wenchuan in May 2008. When we visited the area in June, international media was full of scepticism about the relief and rehabilitation programmes. Everything had changed by the time of our second trip in September, just after the Beijing Olympics.
When we went there along with diplomats from 30 countries including Britain and France, they were not even discussing China’s ability for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the area. They were concerned about the inappropriateness of promising $10-$15 million for a country which just conducted a magnificent Olympics.
Olympics benefits the government of the host country and the companies that build stadiums, roads and airports for the event. It gives a boost to hundreds of people associated with the games such as the director of the inaugural ceremony and the team in charge of the fireworks.
But an Olympics in India seems a distant possibility, judging by the corruption and controversies surrounding the Commonwealth Games and the criticism against the organisers of the National Games. Not many would like to take up the responsibility of organising a complex event like the Olympics.
When a country comes forward to host Olympics, that also becomes an image-building exercise. The same is true with a state holding the National Games. The dilemma of choosing between Olympics or poverty alleviation is valid in a democracy. But there is no point in such questions after we have decided to host the games.
We should focus on ways to conduct the games transparently and without unnecessary expenses. The quality of the games cannot be compromised.
Once we have taken up the responsibility of organising the Olympics, which comes with a timeframe set by the International Olympic Committee, there is no room for complacency so typical of government programmes.
While ensuring that there are no violations of human rights, labour laws and environment, the organising committee has to be given full autonomy in conducting the games. The level of autonomy should be transparent though.
Kerala is hosting the National Games. Our performance on and off the tracks is sure to elevate our prestige at the national level. Let us cheer our sportspersons and the organisers of the games.
(The writer is the Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the UN Environment Programme. The opinions expressed in this column are his personal views.)
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