Pride and Shame: A Tale of Two Events

India conducted two global sporting events within a span of three years. The first of these were the Military World Games (MWG) conducted in October 2007. By any reckoning the MWG is a most prestigious affair as 25% of Olympic medalists and world champions are produced by militaries the world over. Sports persons from 106 countries including major sporting nations such as the USA, China, Germany and Russia participated in seventeen sports disciplines in MWG 2007 and in the process created two world records. The world media which had descended on Hyderabad was full of praise for the Indian Armed Forces for conducting one of the most successful games in the history of MWG. Ironically, the Indian media chose to downplay the event which till then was the biggest sporting affair ever conducted by India. The nation thus missed out on seeing a great sporting display conducted with precision, grace, élan and pride.

Three years later, in October 2010, Delhi was privileged to host the Nineteenth Commonwealth Games (CWG). An event meant to showcase India turned out to be a major organisational embarrassment, bringing shame to the nation. The sleaze and corruption surrounding the games and the sheer ineptitude and incompetence of various bodies responsible for developing the required infrastructure gave rise to doubts of India’s ability to host an event of this magnitude. Finally the Prime Minister of the country had to intervene to set things right and things fell in place at the very last minute. The sportspersons of the country performed brilliantly well, heralding the rise of India as a sporting nation. But in the years to come, CWG 2010 held in New Delhi will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

In scale of magnitude, both MWG 2007 and CWG 2010 were mega events. While the number of participating countries in MWG was far more than CWG, the scale of hosting both these events was reasonably similar. But this is where the similarity ended. The MWG owed its success in great part to the fact that organisational responsibility was entrusted to an Army General, under whom all committees functioned. He was accountable, responsible and authority was vested in him. He was asked to choose his team, was provided with the requisite resources and given a clear mandate. Above all it was a lesson in leadership.

The General chose his team. In his address to the officers and men he stated the mission and then told them that ‘the credit for the success of the games will go to you and the failure if any will be mine’. Clarity of thought and the willingness to accept responsibility for anything that went wrong hence became the hallmark of the MWG Organising Committee which was called ‘The Team’. Every member from soldier to general had their responsibilities cut out. None had to look back for directions and each person worked simply for pride and honour. Indeed the trust and faith which the General had reposed in his men created the resolve that come what may, the leader, the Armed Forces and the Nation will not be let down. No one looked back till the job was done and that is why all aspects relating to the games in all its various manifestations such as accommodation for all personnel, preparation of stadiums, overlays, accreditations and protocol/ hospitality could be completed well in time. No foreign consultants and event management companies were on the pay roll. It was indeed the efforts of officers and men pooled from all three services who through their administrative acumen, skill and ingenuity produced a brilliant and well-coordinated event. People of Hyderabad still remember the stunning opening and closing ceremony which was a mix of culture, adventure, history, and art, presented with military precision and finesse. The total expenditure incurred on MWG was approximately Rs 140 crores far less than that consumed in the opening and closing ceremonies of the CWG. Which makes one wonder that with such expertise available, proved and tested, why the Indian Armed Forces were ignored by the Organising Committee (OC) of the CWG? The very same team could have delivered more precise and well organised games and nation could have been saved from the embarrassment and scams.

The CWG on the other hand was marred by controversy, from financial scams to organisational corruption and ineptitude which led to national shame. No one was accountable for anything, be it the games village, delayed preparation of stadiums, incomplete roads, broken bridges et al. Government blamed OC and OC blamed the state government, Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and sports ministry for failing to deliver the village and stadiums in time. These agencies despite being headed by very senior bureaucrats continued to pass the buck. An official in the OC even blamed perceptions in understanding different hygiene standards when questioned about the deplorable living conditions in the games village thereby confusing his own personal standards with what was expected of an international event. The entire system was flawed. Decision making in the OC was diffused wherein no single person could be held accountable. While each person was ready to take credit, none was prepared to accept responsibility for failure. All prominent sports administrators, bureaucrats and political leaders functioned in a system devoid of responsibility and accountability but rich in perks and privileges. Decision were delayed and deferred to create situations in which corruption and graft could thrive, raising costs of projects to over four times of projected cost. And tragically, no one in authority had the courage to raise the red flag when deadlines after deadlines were missed. It was left to the media to expose the very rottenness of the system and government only woke up to the rude shock when foreign athletes threatened to pull out of the games. Then, after the Prime Ministers intervention, all government agencies including MEA, MHA, sports ministry etc went on an overdrive to clean up the mess in a literal sense. The job which should have been done by hospitality staff and MCD safai karmcharis was supervised by senior bureaucrats and ministers from the Government of India as well as the Delhi Government. Finally the games were delivered but the cost to the nation was immense. A still born baby was brought to life by artificial respiration and now the still born baby is disowned by everyone.

It is not that every stake holder was inefficient. The security set up under Mr Dadhwal of the Delhi Police did a commendable job to have delivered safe and secure games. The traffic management, park and ride and Delhi Metro service too was definitely a high point of the games. These agencies need to be complimented for their excellent performance. Sadly, they were not given the recognition they deserved. Neither were the volunteers who did their job with dedication. And once again, contribution of the Armed Forces received luke warm response from OC CWG.

In the final analysis, India did deliver the games, but at what cost? But there is a silver lining in all the unsavory events of the CWG. We have an opportunity now to impose accountability in public service, prevent corruption in high offices and brook zero tolerance against those public officials who bring disrepute and shame to the country. The media has shown the way. The people of India must now deliver a stern message to our political and bureaucratic class that we expect them to perform. We have an opportunity to redeem ourselves. On our ability to set right these issues will the future of our nation be determined.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views either of the Editorial Committee or the Centre for Land Warfare Studies).