Why is this multi-sport event lagging behind in publicity?

38th National Games Uttarakhand

By Jaswant Claudius (Senior Sports Journalist)

The beginning of modern Olympic Games can be considered to be the beginning of organized sports activities in the whole world in 1896. In India, a provisional Indian Olympic Association was formed in 1924, then the Indian Olympic Association was formally formed for the first time in New Delhi in February 1924. After this, national games became the basis for the selection of Indian participants participating in the Olympic Games. Gradually the situation changed.

After freedom from foreign rule on 15th August 1947, the environment changed. Now national sports associations of various sports started being formed. Their national competitions also started taking place, along with this Asian (continental) sports association of the respective sport was formed. Now the best participant from the competitions of the above three associations or as per the criteria set by the International Olympic Association is selected.

Therefore, we can say that one of the players is selected for the entire team that performs best in the national competition of sports of Indian Olympic Association or any Indian sports association or in the teams of Asian or continental association. When the situation has changed like this, then the national games do not have the same importance as before 1970. Today, when there is a lack of publicity of national games, there may be many reasons for this, but we should not forget that the participants of the 38th National Games are the best players of their respective states.

They need encouragement. In today’s situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the 38th National Games that players no longer consider me PM, but Param Mitra. Then the faces of the spectators present in the stadium, players, coaches, judges, parents lit up after watching and listening to the broadcast of Doordarshan, DD Sports and other electronic media. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of the Centre in 2014, he has started programmes like Khelo India at the grassroots level to bring out the sports talents in India. Sports lovers across India have welcomed it irrespective of their political ideologies. The question arises that when the Prime Minister himself is a supporter of sports, then why is the media not playing its constructive role in this direction? Even today, the 38th National Games are being ignored in the sports pages of newspapers.

The reason for this may be the economic aspect, but the sports media should not fail to fulfill its responsibility. Be it newspapers, magazines or television channels or social media, all should not be negligent in promoting the national games. It is possible that the media department of the 38th National Games may not be as active as expected or it may not be able to provide timely information, in such a situation a suggestion letter can be written to the organizing committee of the 38th National Games after the competition is over, but in the present situation the achievements of the players in the National Games should be promoted as much as possible. On the other hand a media cell should be established in the Indian Olympic Association and also in the National Sports Associations of various sports.

They should have a systematic information of all the participants taking part in the competition. In the 38th National Games of Uttarakhand I got the opportunity to commentate on the Kho-Kho competition on behalf of DD Sports. The way instant information was being provided in the media and commentator box to make Kho-Kho popular under the leadership of the President of the Indian Kho-Kho Association Sudhanshu Mittal, cannot be praised enough. More than 50 matches were held but neither there was any dispute in any match nor were the players dissatisfied with any decision of the judges. This means that the Kho-Kho players remained completely disciplined .