He said that economically developed countries like the USA etc. Can afford to keep themselves aloof from active intervention in the functioning of various sports bodies since they have attained a level of financial viability which allows voluntary participation of sportsmen in activities without the financial backing of the state.
He said that however, for developing countries like India where finances are a big constraint, the state has to perform an active role in encouraging the youth to come forward and opt for a career in sports.
Further, he said we cannot ignore the importance of state intervention if we look at the example of China where the state has actively involved itself in the development and promotion of sports with encouraging results.
The Beijing Olympics testify to this assertion. Similar is the case of Haryana where a visionary policy of the state government has led to significant improvement in the performance of sportsmen of the state in various disciplines.
He said that the observance of the National Sports Code, therefore, assumes a great significance. The functioning of the various sports federations, the Indian Olympic Association or the state Olympic associations should not only be transparent but also on ethical lines.
The role and intervention of both the Union and state governments are therefore, of paramount importance. Most of the state Olympic associations are unable to organise sporting events due to utter lack of finances/resources.
The state should actively assist such sports federations financially and also ensure that the funds provided by it are not siphoned off but are put to proper use.