Azad calls for `Olympics scam’ probe

In a statement today, the cricketer-turned-politician claimed about Rs 1.5 crore was spent on the officials alone for their travel, boarding and `frequent entertainment’. There was more than one official for every athlete, he added.

“The then Minister of State for Sports Shahnawaz Hussain has adversely commented about the contingent after he cut short his visit and returned to India. He said that most of the contingent members were out to have fun.

This indeed is a serious observation from a responsible authority. This needs a thorough probe by the government.”

He said these sports officials have been occupying the top slots in the federations and associations for several years and have become like old furniture, that too with no antique value.

Azad said the IOA president (Suresh kalmadi) should tender his resignation forthwith after the Sydney debacle. “The present president is a personal friend of mine, and if he does take such a step in the interest of Indian Sports, he will not only go up in my esteem but also in the eyes of millions of sports lovers of the country.” Azad alleged that on the airfare alone, the government shelled out Rs 25 lakh for the contingent of officials.

Besides Rs 75 lakh (the figure is likely to be more) were coughed up for boarding/lodging and other expenses. Also our officials were so pleased by the performance of the Indian team that they even threw a party to entertain themselves lavishly in a top Sydney hotel.

He also alleged the expenses for that one fun-filled evening alone came to about US $ 40,000 (Rs 18 lakhs). There were other such evenings too.

Overall, India hosted more entertainment nights than any other country, apart from the hosts of course. In the fine art of entertainment at least they would have won a silver medal, as they were second to only to hosts Australia. Is this kind of splurging not a huge drain on our National resources?

He assented that, the scam was getting bigger. “I have reliable information that many members of the 80 official delegates reached Sydney much after all medal hopes had been lost for India. Why did they then land up there? Is this not a National shame? Should they have left the country at all?”

Azad said , regrettably, that crores of rupees were spent on “gromming” athletes for the Olympics by sending them abroad for training over the last 2 years. “I want a probe as to how starving nations like Ethiopia produce would champions, and we seem to be getting nowhere despite training our athletes abroad year after year.”