IOA lambasts Sports min for loosing sight of London Olympics

The Indian Olympic Association has criticised the Sports Ministry for loosing sight of 2012 London Olympics.

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association on Wednesday criticised the Sports Ministry for loosing sight of 2012 London Olympics and concentrating more on bringing in the "draconian" National Sports Development Legislation to mar the autonomy of NSFs.

"The shift of attention from Olympic Games preparation to passing the Sports Legislation will only jeopardise India`s Olympic preparations," IOA`s acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in a release. "Both Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India are more busy in getting the support for their draconian legislation by threatening to withdraw all financial support if the National Sports Federations do not succumb to their pressure," Malhotra added. Malhotra, who is also the president of Archery Association of India (AAI), expressed his anguish over the pitiable condition of the national coaching camps being conducted in various centres in preparation for the international events including the London Olympics."Indian hockey team`s lackadaisical preparation, player’s outburst for not having any proper facilities, not even support staff, has already attracted severe criticism in the media. "The shooters have to face the new order to get license for their Air Gun and Air Pistol, thanks to the Sports Ministry, which remained a silent spectator instead of coming forward to the rescue of the shooting fraternity and pleading for the cause of sports," Malhotra said. "Similar is the fate of Archery training camp at SAI eastern centre in Kolkata where every single day one after another scandal surfaces and allegations of sub-standard food, sub-standard living condition and out of control staff come to light and inspite of several complaints by the archers, no action has been taken to improve the condition," he added. He further attacked Sports ministry and SAI and said both are in the grip of ostrich-like mentality as they do not wish to see the reality of the national camps.Malhotra further stated that he would soon convene a meeting of the NSFs involved in Olympic preparations to take stock of the situation and to decide the future course of action. PTI