Commonwealth Games 2010

World champion wrestler Sushil Kumar entered the Indira Gandhi stadium to the sort of deafening applause India reserves usually only for Sachin Tendulkar. When Saina Nehwal smashed her way out of a match point, the celebrations at Siri Fort and in millions of homes across India was no less than when India beat Australia in the nerve wracking, nail biting test match at Mohali.

The run-up may have been tardy but the actual conduct of the Commonwealth Games was superb. That itself is proof enough of the power of public criticism and the vibrancy of Indian democracy. We saw India break into non-traditional sports - especially field events, gymnastics and aquatics.

The achievements of sportspersons from small towns and villages showed what India is capable of. They showed how sport can be a great equaliser. Our women sportspersons - some managing a family and children along with their arduous training - did us especially proud by winning a surprisingly large number of medals.In fact, if these games are being considered a success it is because of the stellar performances of our athletes, in no way attributable to the mess that India's politicians landed the country in just before the games began.

Every Indian had to bow his head in shame as story after story broke of gross mismanagement and unimaginable plunder. From the Prime Minister downwards, they are all to be held accountable for having allowed the mess to perpetuate. What was the PM doing when Suresh Kalmadi and company dragged their feet, intentionally allowed the delays to happen and then tried to push all expenses through at the last minute, knowing that the government had no option but to clear the spending because the game were nearing.

Chief Minister Sheila Dixit is already talking about giving the Olympics a shot somewhere during the 2020's. There can be no worse idea. Unless accountability is fixed, unless the corrupt are jailed, unless professionals are brought in, unless the right lessons are learnt, the hosting of no mega sporting event will have the backing of the people of India, who will view them as another opportunity for corrupt netas to line their pockets.  

Prateek Pathak

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad

www.pathakprateek.blogspot.com