Sports Governance and Issues | 27 Apr 2023

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has decided to examine the sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) President by women wrestlers, raising concerns over Sports Governance in India.

What is the SC’s Observation?

• The court has decided to examine the petition filed by the wrestlers regarding the non-registration of First Information Report (FIR) and has listed the case for hearing further.
  • The court pointed out that the petitioners have a remedy under Section 156 of the Code of Criminal Procedure under which a Magistrate could order an investigation.
• The court observed that, there are serious allegations contained in the petition at the behest of wrestlers who have represented India with regard to sexual harassment, adding that the SC is conscious of its duty to protect fundamental rights under the Constitution's Article 32, which allows individuals to move to the top court to seek justice.

What is the Current Model of Sports Governance in India?

• The existing model of governance of sports in India has two wings:
  • One - controlled by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and has institutions like the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and other institutions working towards promoting sports training under SAI.
  • Other - headed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) having under it, State Olympic Associations (SOAs) and national and state Sports Federations (NSFs and SFs).
• MYAS provides financial and infrastructural support to the NSF and SFs and indirectly controls these federations through political representations.
  • IOA is the umbrella body under which the NSF, SFs and SOAs conduct various sporting events in the country
• A broad level graphical representation of the arrangements amongst them is as follows:

What are the Issues Related to Sports Governance in India?

• Unclear Rights and Responsibility:
  • In Indian sports, management and governance are often not clearly separated. The executive committee, which is supposed to focus on governance, ends up doing management work.
  • This creates a lack of checks and balances, as they are allowed to operate without oversight or accountability.
• Lack of Transparency and Accountability:
  • The current sports model lacks accountability due to unlimited powers and a lack of transparency in decision-making. There are also issues with irregular revenue management.
    • For instance, in July 2010, the Central Vigilance Commission released a report which showed that there were irregularities in 14 projects of the Commonwealth Games held in India.
    • The 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing and betting case arose when the Delhi Police arrested three cricketers, on the charges of alleged spot-fixing.
• Non-Professionalisation:
  • Indian sport organizations, especially governing bodies, have not adapted to the challenges of a professional and commercialized sector. They still rely on volunteers instead of hiring skilled professionals to handle the increased workload.
• Lack of Sufficient Infrastructure:
  • Status of sports infrastructure in India is yet to reach the desired level. This creates an obstacle in developing a culture of sports in the country.
  • According to the Constitution of India, sport is a State subject consequently there is no comprehensive approach for the development of sports infrastructure uniformly throughout the country.
• Issues Related to Sexual Harassment:
  • There have been several high-profile cases where athletes have accused coaches and officials of sexual harassment and abuse.
    • However, the response from sports organizations has been slow and inadequate.
  • One of the key issues is the lack of a proper mechanism to address sexual harassment complaints.
    • Many sports organizations do not have a formal policy in place for dealing with such complaints, and there is often no clear chain of command for reporting incidents.

How can the Issues Related to Sports Governance be Addressed?

• Empowering Athletes:
  • Athletes are the primary stakeholders in sports, and their involvement in decision-making can bring much-needed accountability and transparency to sports organizations.
  • To empower athletes in sports administration, there must be mechanisms in place to ensure their representation at all levels of sports governance.
    • The Olympic Charter also has a provision for the election of athlete representatives as members of countries’ National Olympic Committee (India – IOA) and their boards.
• Autonomy of Sports Federations:
  • The autonomy of sports federations is crucial in addressing the challenges related to sports governance.
  • It enables sports organizations to act independently through their own democratic structures, free from governmental and external influence, which can reduce the likelihood of corruption and nepotism.
• Bottom-Up Reforms:
  • Reforms should start from the bottom of the pyramid, which means reconstituting district and state bodies that feed into national sports governance.
  • This approach ensures that accountability and transparency are built into the sports governance structure at all levels, starting from the grassroots.
• Creating Sports Awareness:
  • Incorporating sports into children's daily lives can improve their confidence, self-image, and even lead to a career in sports.
  • To build a strong sporting culture in the country, the change needs to start at the primary education level. The education system should give equal importance to sports as a part of a child's holistic upbringing.
• Greater Representation of Women:
  • Encouraging greater representation of women in sports governance positions can help ensure that their voices are heard and that their rights are protected. This can be achieved through several measures, such as:
    • Creating gender-sensitive policies
    • Providing equal opportunities for women to access leadership positions in sports governance.
    • Encouraging women to pursue careers in sports
    • Promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity
    • Establishing gender quotas
    • Creating safe and supportive environments for women

Conclusion

• Addressing the issues related to sports governance requires a multi-faceted approach.
• It is imperative to create a more transparent and inclusive sports culture and ensure that athletes' rights are protected, and their voices are heard in sports administration.

Source: HT

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