Sports and national participation are
part and parcel of both the credibility of a Country’s diversity, disparate skills
and a means where talent is exposed and rewarded, when performance is
excellent.
It therefore is the duty of a Government to have a coherent
sports policy, and along with it a program that is publicly funded to carry out
that policy. It is impossible to fund all sports, and so certain decisions have
to be taken on how the available funds are divided, representing the broad
interests of the people who are participating as part of the goal that the
nation sets for itself.
This policy needs to be reviewed from time
to time, and updated because new sports and facilities can add to the existing mix
of sports that Sri Lankans participate in.
It is therefore extremely regretful that
when 20 of the 25 Golds that were won were for Swimming with hardly a penny spent
by the Government, it is simply the dedication of the Coaches, the Athletes, and
their parents who MUST bear all the costs of training and where available certain
scholarships provided by overseas institutions and Universities that are keen to
have proficient sportsmen and women in their Academies to boost their reputation.
I have NOT heard a word uttered by the Minister
of Sports on this matter, or to even promise that our swimming talent will be recognized
and rewarded in future, especially bearing in mind that with the increase in provision
of swimming pools in the provinces, their swimming talent along with the whole paraphernalia
of this sport can be developed, further encouraging participation, thereby not restricting
it to a few families who are so dedicated with a passion to the sport that they
live and breathe that sport and turn out a family of swimmers!
Sri Lanka excelled in the
recently concluded South Asian Games, as compared with their neighbors, but there
is still much room for improvement, as there is talent that must be harnessed and
exploited to the fullest, as the athletes themselves commit a lot of time to their
sport, and with the Olympics this year, we would like to see some medal winners
too, not just restricted to sending a shooting team from the Forces! I trust that
the authorities have taken note of their responsibilities and are able to fulfill
them to bring fame to the Country.
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