Indian sports administrators have been warned against treating multi-sport events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games as “paid holidays”, with officials now facing the prospect of being sent back home midway through the tournament if found neglecting their duties.
Sources told PTI that the Sports Ministry has taken a strict stand ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, making it clear that officials who fail to support athletes or are seen “holidaying” during the events will be immediately withdrawn from the contingent.
“It has been conveyed by the Ministry that there would be no hesitation in calling back those who do not do their job of supporting athletes and are found holidaying. Anyone loitering without purpose would be immediately withdrawn going forward,” a top National Sports Federation (NSF) official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The ministry is understood to be closely monitoring not only the athletes’ performances but also the contribution of administrators and support staff travelling with the contingent.
“The ministry is of the view that every accreditation is crucial and it should only go to those who can add value to an athlete’s performance,” the official added.
Indian sports administrators have often come under criticism during major events for being unavailable to athletes despite forming a sizeable part of India’s travelling contingent. Officials are expected to oversee logistics, training schedules, coordination and athlete welfare during multi-discipline competitions.
The warning comes months after Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao issued a stern message to NSF officials during a conclave in Ahmedabad in January.
“Please don’t go if you think of this as an outing with relatives. We don’t need you,” Rao had said.
India’s contingent for the Commonwealth Games is expected to be smaller this year because the Glasgow edition will feature only 10 disciplines. In contrast, the Asian Games in Japan are expected to see India send a contingent of more than 700 athletes and officials across 41 disciplines.
The ministry’s latest directive signals a tougher approach towards accountability within Indian sports administration, especially at a time when the country is investing heavily in athlete preparation and international performance.
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