By The Line Judge
Many sports officials from athletics to boxing to rugby are putting their money on the new young sports minister, Namal Rajapaksa, to bring in a renaissance in the sports culture in the country. They are also expecting the sports ministry to bail them out because there is a paucity of funds for development purposes citing the economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the minister has made it clear that national sports associations have to be self-sustaining and not to expect hand-outs from the sports ministry, which can better channel funds for high performance and development instead of wasteful expenditure on extravagant joy rides.
However, it was disappointing to note motor racing ace Dilantha Malagamuwa leverage his position as a member of the National Sports Council to get State sponsorship to participate in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe Championship 2020, which will be held from September 5 to November 15 in Germany, Spain, Belgium and France. This is the first time Malagamuwa, who has achieved fame for Sri Lanka in motor racing for nearly 36 years, will be participating in a racing event under State sponsorship. He will ostensibly be the brand ambassador for Sri Lanka Tourism during this championship.
The 57-year-old is also on the verge of acquiring a World Guinness Record as the ‘World’s Longest Active Sportsman’ for his extensive career of 42 years in motor racing.
Sports tourism is the way forward for Sri Lanka, especially when events around the world have come to a standstill. But there is a conflict of interest when a sports star uses his political clout for personal gain in the guise of bringing glory to Sri Lanka. How can the National Sports Council comprising eminent leaders in business and sports, with a mandate to advice the sports minister on matters of national sports policy and selections, claim to be an independent body when a member seeks favours from the government?
There may be other deserving talented young individuals who are genuinely sweating hard to achieve greatness but don’t have the means to attain high performance. Sri Lanka can boast of motor racing legends in the past but at a time when empowerment of youth in the country is the top priority, it is mystifying to see why the authorities in the land are falling head over heels for a sporting star albeit even as an ambassador, when his best years may be behind him. Who is Malagamuwa trying to fool with his antics on racing tracks around the world with the backing of those in authority in the country?
Although the sporting minister has a penchant for fast cars, he should be aware of the pitfalls that he has to navigate in the bumpy road to success. Other sports bodies that are desperately in need of funds for development cannot be faulted for being aggrieved when pride of place is given to a sport which is difficult to sustain, let alone winning on the international circuits. The only world champion in an individual sport Sri Lanka has ever produced is in billiards when M.J.M. Lafir won the title in 1973, displaying his mastery on the green baize. But he did not receive State patronage before or after and died a pauper.
We have produced Olympic medallists and conquered the world in cricket, but the minister has to keep his word to give priority to sports that have the potential to win medals on the international stage instead of paying lip service to his proclamations.
“Achieve sporting success, build an active nation whilst empowering youth to drive the growth of the country, The Journey has just begun!” tweeted the 34-year-old minister who is active on social media and has a very large following. But unless he stays on his toes and scans the field like a rugby player, his efforts could boomerang instead of forging ahead with his initiatives.
“As a sports lover, from a very young age, I have done much to work towards the development of the sports sector, even during my father’s presidency between 2005 and 2015. We successfully launched the Carlton Rugby Sevens which eventually turned into an international sporting event, exposing our local talent to international players and trainees and earning them much recognition,” he wrote in his blog.
On a positive note, he has prioritized the return to sports in schools giving hope to students who have been kicking their heels at home without any activity. “Collaborated with the education ministry to discuss how to uplift 25 existing sports schools in #lka. Infrastructure dev & improving on training & coaching facilities were identified as priorities. Both ministries will work on a common prog to provide all necessary assistance. Collaboration among ministries can help to deliver faster results. Let’s keep our children fully engaged by giving guidance and access to sports,” he tweeted.
“My ministry is in discussions with other ministries such as Education etc to develop sports at the school level. Being an active rugby player when I was in school myself, I do know the importance of further strengthening sports among students and in schools, so that children are trained at an early age. This leads to physical fitness which is extremely important, and also helps us in the governing level to identify the correct talent to represent the country in local and domestic games. Training at an early age is followed in all sporting countries and it is something I will now pursue closely with the schools,” he stated.
Taking the bull by the horns, he has engaged the education ministry, which had decreed earlier that all extra-curricular activities would be banned this year. It would have deprived the sporting youth of the country in the final year of school to showcase their skills and achieve their dreams in their chosen disciplines. Education is not only about getting through exams because there are some talented children who are brilliant in the field of play who would have been affected psychologically.
The National Institute of Education (NIE) should be lauded for presenting a new Draft Policy for Secondary Education Reforms which envisages a specified number of sports being compulsory for every child – with 50% of the curriculum dedicated to core subjects like math and languages and 10-15% to physical education, health and sports. The State Ministry of Education Reforms will also enter sports as a criterion for the Advanced Level certificate.
The outcome of discussion officials of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sports had on the resumption of schools sports events is eagerly awaited. Although there are genuine concerns of the spread of the virus, sports events such as Premier League cricket, FFSL President’s Cup football, RCGC Golf Championship, Clay Court Tennis Nationals and even a boxing tournament for Army cadets at the Military Academy in Diyathalawa have been held successfully.
Even major school competitions could resume gradually with matches being held within closed doors or with a limited crowd. When elections could be held without a single case being reported and children are returning back to school, it is time for school sports to resume. Just as you cannot prevent people cramming public buses like before, you cannot stop children playing in the park, kicking a football or playing street cricket to let out their energy and keep fit.
-ENCL
