Award/reward
It is routine but illogical to pay obscene amounts to top-notch athletes rather than improving infra
It is basic human nature and courtesy to show respect and gratitude for any outstanding performer by rewarding individual players/teams that have earned laurels for the country at the world’s largest sporting spectacle, the Olympics, and this paper has nothing against the hardworking players who toil hard and shed their blood, sweat and tears for years. That said, this practice is in reality illogical and inexcusable. Why shouldn’t these amounts be pooled and used to upgrade sporting infrastructure across the country or to grant sponsorships/stipend to the deserving, underprivileged kids who show a spark of brilliance in their chosen field of activity? Just to cite an example, what percentage of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s coffers would equal the Rs 1-crore reward it has announced for the Gold medal-winning javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra? Not even 0.5 per cent, one would think. Meanwhile, the A-listers of the Indian cricket squad, such as Virat Kohli, Bumrah and Rohit Sharma, get paid an annual salary of Rs 7 crore. So, the BCCI’s announcement should be seen exactly for what it is: A PR exercise for the world cricket’s richest body, not any act of philanthropy.
However, it would have been much more meaningful if the various States, sporting associations, the Union Government, the employer organisations and other sundry commercial companies that have thus been squandering money had pledged similar amounts for improving the quality of life and training facilities, which would have by extension ensured a higher tally at future international sporting events. In several other countries, no such bounties are handed out; instead the players are given symbolic keys to the city in recognition of their achievements and their job conditions are made cushier. In a similar fashion, the Government and private entities employing these sportspersons may significantly increase a player’s salary or even grant them promotions. Especially during these particularly hard times of the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes sense to utilise such obscene amounts on the maintenance and upgradation of the sporting infrastructure so that an increasing number of medal aspirants could get more nutritious diets, coaching and other necessary facilities. Of course, it needs reiteration, the achievers at the highest level of sports must be rewarded suitably. But making a very miniscule percentage flush with cash while an overwhelming population of deserving athletes remains on the margins must not be encouraged, too.
Source: The Pioneer
