Read Time: 05 minutes

A Plea has been filed in the Supreme Court for advancement of Athletics Games and Sports played in Olympics. The petitioner seeks directions for latest training, Infrastructure and funds to Sports-persons so that winning Gold Medal in Maximum number may not be a dream for our players.

“… inability to compete with the best of the best on the greatest platform in the world is due to a lack of exposure to top-level competition, infrastructure, international level facilities and training. When compared to countries like Grenada and Jamaica, which win a medal for every couple of hundred thousand people, India's performance is abysmal. So, why is it that India isn't punching above its weight? Discrepancy in the allocation of money arising from the government policies to the ground level stands as a greater question with no accountability,” the plea states.

Following prominent questions are raised by the petitioner:

• Are the government policies/initiatives pertaining with sports – productive & constructive for athletes to compete in the biggest forum?
• Are the existing resources and facility satisfactory enough in comparison to successful Olympic playing nations?
• Does this situation of Indian sports industry indicate that there should be an increased accountability of public money utilized on this games?

It is added that unlike the many European countries, the Indian Education System has still not included Sports as a compulsory subject, be it Government or Private Institutions.

At Olympics, India has the lowest population to medals ratio – The country has only won 29 medals since its inaugural appearance at the Summer Games in 1900.

Moreover, competitors who have earlier qualified for the Games have done so by paying for their own training, or receiving substantial corporate sponsorships.

“Corruption, lack of transparency, and underutilization of resources, however, continue to be widespread. And sports administration has resulted in this devastating performance of the Indian sports industry,” plea further states.

Focus has also been laid on declaration of Hockey as a National Game and investing well in the said Sports.

Prayer sought by the petitioner:

• Issue mandamus/directions to the Respondents to enforce and initiate guidelines for upliftment of Sports Industry, including necessary funds, facilities and infrastructure.
• Issue mandamus/directions for initiating public accountability of funds allocated for this Industry and perform greater promotional activities.
• Issue mandamus/directions to the Respondents for recognizing the game of Hockey as the National game of India.
• Issue mandamus/directions for constituting a special committee to oversee and govern Sports program in Schools and Colleges and promote Athletics at primary-institutional level.

Petition is filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari.

Case Title: Vishal Tiwari v. Union of India & Ors