Monday, October 18, 2010

Commonwealth Games 2010 – Food for thought!

- Dilip MS

Just over a fortnight back, apprehension pervaded throughout the country over the success of the biggest event we have ever hosted till date. The spark started somewhere in July, when the Indian media discovered financial irregularities in the proceedings leading up to the games. Gradually, the symptoms started to surface with every passing day. The media went bonkers in reporting some of the inexplicable dealings that were taking place and the country was dazed by the barrage of doubts raised over the dubious dealings of our officials.

The situation exacerbated as games drew closer; preparations were way behind schedule. Reports of dogs and snakes in athletes’ rooms coupled with water-logging due to incessant rain almost spelt doom for the games. The village was declared unfit to live in by CWG supervisors, and major athletes started backing out and postponing their arrival. The collapse of a footbridge and a fragile ceiling made the crisis spin out of control and got the attention of major international broadcasters. The purpose of showing India’s prowess in hosting such games was defeated, and the Incredible India hit its nadir. The crisis made even optimists doubt India’s capability to host the CWG. With this, the government stepped in, and the Prime Minister himself pledged to take matters into his own hands.

With a week to go for the games, the mess had to be cleaned up before the athletes arrived. The overnight parachuting of a huge number of labourers and supervisors helped to ease the infrastructural and hygienic concerns. Thanks to their efficiency, things started to look up for the games.

A widely-praised opening ceremony on October 3 helped improve the image of games in particular and the image of India in general. Over the course of the games, the limelight shifted totally on to the athletes. India celebrated every medal and the associated sportsperson. India finished second with 38 gold medals, behind Australia. In spite of the grave concerns and embarrassment due to allegations and mismanagement, this is believed to be the best phase for Indian sports as we showcased our sporting prowess in many games besides the 2-0 win over Australia in Test cricket.

Eventually the Commonwealth Games 2010 turned out to be the most expensive Commonwealth games ever with the total cost of Rs.300 bn. Nonetheless there is a point to ponder over. Should we as a developing country splurge our tax collection on such a mega event when our politicians are eternally corrupt?

We have managed to conduct Asian Games earlier, Commonwealth Games now, maybe an Olympics later, but at what cost can we afford all this? A simple cost-benefit analysis shows that any country which hosts such events incur heavy losses wherein revenues does not justify the costs involved especially under corrupt administrative environs. Imagine the state of stadiums post games; they are of no use whatsoever. In cricket-preoccupied minds of us, do we really remember and revere the sportspersons who have done India proud on a world stage? Aren’t we better off by investing the same amount in improving the much needed infrastructure which could provide impetus for our growth?

77 comments:

  1. @Dilip

    Nobody can deny the huge costs of organizing such events in India = actual + 3* actual (corruption!).

    But on the benefit side; we tend to be rather cautious! We tend to exaggerate the costs...but undermine the benefits.

    There are little tangible benefits in the form of tickets sold, but there has been huge intangible gain in the form of tourism + brand equity gains!

    Nonetheless...this was an epitome for Prof. Sanjay Bakshi to use in his BFBV classes. Or you can relate it the movie: "Peepli [Live]!!!

    What role media played? We know...they play in order to have some TRP, even at the cost of India's image!

    Congratulations to all...we won 38 gold medals...but remember the mosquitoes & other harsh conditions in India played a huge role beside home ground advantage that we had. So, we should not forget to give them (Mosquitoes!), the due credit in this collective achievement!!!

    -Anshul :)

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  2. interesting, thanks

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  3. @ Anshul: Agree with you on brand equity and tourism fronts. However these benefits don't have long lasting effects as ppl tend to forget cwg and delhi shortly after games. This has historically come true

    @Karan: I would definitely want India to host mega games in the milieu of right infrastructure with efficient administration and supervision. Else the results are there for us to see. We would overrun the costs by starting everything from scratch; gives a great opportunity for officials to make money; media waiting in the wings to nail corruption which would eventually lead to India being laughing stock. The purpose of hosting games itself is defeated before the games are even started!! I am sorry for the inaccuracy in saying games are not profitable but the article u pointed out says why the games were successful; reasons which do not apply to India now. Nevertheless I am pessimistic about our ability to hold games now, I am optimistic abt our ability to hold it in future.

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  4. @Dilip:
    Although i have not been able to observe anything personally in the CWG due to me being on exchange, but i still think the games results are ok. ("Else the results are there for us to see")
    from what i've read so far the infra has been praised by the athletes, i believe supervision for the games was not found lacking in any aspect. i don't know what results are you talking about? Perhaps you are mixing up the CWG games results with the bureaucratic issues that are linked with the infra building activities.


    no offense but you talk like a scared person ("cost overrun - start from scratch - make money - get caught - humiliated"), too afraid of what might be revealed and fearful of the embarrassment that might bring us down from the elevated egoistic status that the world is giving to us through BRIC and the E7 and what not.(agreed i'm going into a bit of rhetoric here but there is a point to it - Humiliation is sometimes necessary to remove arrogance, and you don't stop work because you fear it)

    I feel some of what you say will happen but we don't STOP acting because of it!
    You analyze and predict but what do you suggest? what would be your decision in this regard going forward?

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  5. really we cant say that this is wrong or right because everything has some good as well as bad effects .so how the hosting issue will consider as only good or only bad.today in this situation where 45% of people were living in such a poor condition a country india should focus on the same but not to invest a such high amount in this way.on the other hand we have to show the world we can do anything as any other country in the world can do.after all we are a trillion dollar economy.so each thing has to be considered favourably.and every thing should go in parallal.

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  6. That’s Too nice, when it comes in india hope it can make a Rocking place for youngster.. hope that
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