Lots has been written about how Cricket is the passion of India. The scrutiny with which every action of the Indian team has been monitored is proof of that. The Cricket board of India (BCCI) has launched the IPL (Indian Premiere league), which has attracted lots of cash. Each player has been auctioned for millions and billions of pounds or dollars or whatever currency you may wish to use. In spite of all the setbacks, the game still continues to rake in more money than ever before.
Contradict this, with a latest CNN-IBN expose on the lack of money poured into the athletes preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The situation is so bad that the badminton association has no money to provide for basic training facilities and Shuttle cocks. The other athletes are also no better, and this continues a story that haunts the sporting culture of India.
India's passion with Cricket may lead to the death knell for other sport activities in the country. Athletics and other skill sports are just not encouraged, and on many occasions, the country lies at the bottom of the medals tally with hardly one. Over the last five Olympics, we have not had more than one medal, and the gold medal has eluded us since 1980.
What makes Cricket so popular among the public despite setbacks? If 2007 is to be put in retrospective, it was a mixed bag. We were eliminated from the very first round of the Cricket world cup, won the 20-20 world cup defeating Pakistan, and have won three test series this year against England, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They have also given the Australian Cricket team a "tough" fight down under. Yet, the huge money invested may bring out development of the sport, but it is stagnating other sports, and that too during Olympic year is just uncalled for.
The flip side of the coin is that Money may produce talent, but it needs a constant assembly line of good performances and Advertiser marketing to ensure that the powers-to-be (the BCCI) get their money's worth. Money can destroy talent as well, because all these demands from so many commercial activities might lead to burnout and frustration. There have been many cases where Advertisers have dug the graves of promising sportsmen due to inconsistency.
Too much of emphasis on one game seems to be common place in the Sub-continent, so it should not come as a surprise if India does not go beyond one medal in the Olympics this time as well. If there is solid determination from the lesser known athletes, then India can win more than one medal. But, i guess it is asking too much. If Cricket and Capitalism merge, then all the activities which do not get in the money will be killed off. The Olympic participation of some brave athletes could be a flicker in a storm, and nothing more.
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