Government interference in Sports!!!

[Kumar]

FIFA has warned French Government not to interfere in Soccer affairs ... while this is ongoing, Nigerian president has banned its soccer team for two years...

There were lot of news in india few weeks back about the tussle between Indian government and IOA regarding the tenure of federation officials, with IOA threatening suspension from IOC if govt. interferes in IOA affairs... What do you guys think?
IOC may ban india


Hitler's propaganda during the Olympic games led IOC and international sports federations to disallow govt. interference in sports affairs... but their ban has done nothing with Dictator governments; further if any of the governments is spending money in sports, why shouldn't they have a say in how federation is run (especially if the public feels federation is corrupt or ineffecient)?

[mugu]

The debate is still on. In fact it has been on for more than three decades, the difference now being a firmer Govt approach; increasing assertion by courts; the tussle between Sports Minister and IOA President; more media exposure on such issues and the continuing mismanagement by IOA and Federations.
There is no doubt that if the Government is spending money on sports, controlled by the IOA and Federations, then it should have some say. Up to what extent can that 'say' be is one question; where all can Govt interfere in, will be the other, apart from questions like, 'can govt set right the system'? or "will govt not play politics?" etc.
The Sports Ministry has put up a solid argument, it would seem, before the IOC. The IOA is gearing up to rebut that in the media, though what position the IOC has taken is not known, barring the standard reiteration of protecting autonomy and respecting the Olympic Charter.
In the meantime, there is a PIL in the Delhi High Court which should come up again on August 18. If the court rules that these sports organisations do come under Govt regulations, since sport is public function and not a private domain, especially when you use "INDIA", then the Govt is expected to stick to its stand and may even contemplate legislation.
There is a good document (apart from the entire communication between the Govt and the IOC) on the Ministry website that gives the Govt side of the argument.
I am more and more in favour of Govt control without really triggering an IOC suspension, at least till the end of the Commonwealth Games.
http://yas.nic.in/writereaddata/linkima ... 154268.pdf

[arjun2761]

Of course, there is some irony in the Indian government calling for "good" governance when we have third world standard public governance in India. However, these federations are mostly run by politicians with the same primary motivation (self and crony enrichment) so it probably doesn't make much difference which set of inepts provide the "good" governance.

Really, it will be interesting if someone can think of a organizational set up (and incentive scheme) in which the folks responsible are somehow measured on results (which are relatively easy to do in the world of sport). Perhaps, the amount of money which the folks can distribute to their cronies should be somehow tied to measurable sports results (with clawback provisions) but some creative thinking should be done here since both the existing options are equally inept. For example, in addition to each athlete getting reward for a medal, all the officials in that federation should also be given the same reward. Thoughts?

[prasen9]

The government should not spend any money on sports directly via the federations. It should just create or subsidize the creation of large infrastructure and reimburse direct travel costs for sportsmen and a limited number of coaches/managers (not officials) for certain poor federations. As arjun and others indicated above federations are basically run by politicians and their cronies and money is siphoned off. So, why bother?