Musing on Olympics 2016.
Summer olympics spectacle allows viewers to check into sports that haven't got commercialized and are rarely on our radars- Javelin, Gymnastics, Weight lifting and others.
Back in the school days, it wasn't uncommon to find Shot put, Javelin arrow, Discus in the unimaginatively titled 'Sports Room'.
During annual sporting events Hockey was played with as much regularity as the Cricket. Gymnastics was always a part of the track and field events. And so were some of the other Olympic-bound sports.
It's another matter I wasn't particularly sporty back then and closest I came was to get into trials for the school Hockey team. The team eventually folded in a couple of years though.
Back to the present, I haven't been into the sports room of any school these days but given the exposure and demand from parents and kids, I am certain that the odds of finding a Javelins arrow or a shot put in our schools is next to an asteroid missing Mother Earth.
Obviously therefore creating champions in any Olympic event starts with a very low probability. Add to this internal mis-management of funds and infrastructure (I didn't say lack of it), limited coaching talent and factional politics, the medal winning probability waters down to an asteroid actually wiping our planet.
Regardless of my cynical belief, the Oly narrative in the Indian media is jubilant. Each year the contingent is being picked on merit, as not much of foul play has been reported. There is a hope of medals, and not just participation and a foreign trip. All good.
I hope we get to see some cheerful images of Indian sportsmen and women winning against odds or defying the world. If not, like me, you can always dust up the archives to indulge in "Chak De India" or the latest money spinner "Sultan".
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