A lot of people are freaking out over the inclusion of break dance and skateboarding in the programme for the 2024 Paris Olympics. And that, when a sport like squash has been craving to get into the Olympics as a competitive sport.
It is well known the way the Summer Olympics have evolved is not a joke. The fight for existence has been going on for over a decade. Even a traditional sport like hockey, where India were the giants in the past, has faced turmoil. Other sport like weightlifting and shooting have now come under scrutiny.
International federations of these respective sport have been fighting to stay alive in the Olympics and also evolving every year. Take the example of hockey. From a change in the duration of 70 minutes to four quarters, was a huge shift. There were other changes as well to make hockey look more appealing on TV.
Had the world body of hockey (FIH) sat back and relaxed, they would have been hit. Instead, the FIH chose to change and adapt to the demands of modern day Olympics where TV has so much relevance.
It is well known, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the other related stakeholder are in a continuous process of evaluation and suggesting changes. For you and me, breakdance may seem irrelevant, but not for the IOC.
What is more shocking from the Indian point of view, is how quota places have been hacked for a few disciplines in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
And here, sport like boxing, weightlifting and shooting have come in for close trimming. Perhaps, the mandarins in the Sports Ministry in New Delhi are unaware of the way quota places have been reduced.
For the postponed Tokyo Olympics, there are a total of 296 quota places in boxing (206 men and 90 women). The new quotas for the Paris Games in boxing are 252 (126 men and 126 women).
In weightlifting, the quotas for Tokyo Olympics are 98 men and 98 women, for a total of 196. Paris 2024 has hacked it down to a 120 (60 men and 60 women).
In Shooting, from 360 quota places, the reduction has been made to 340. In fact, the ISSF (world shooting body) has changed the mix trap event from trap to skeet for 2024.
The message is clear, the IOC will make changes as necessary. India needs to wake up and plan better. There is no point in Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju saying India will finish in Top 10 medal bracket in 2028 Olympics.
The minister and his think-tank as well as the Indian Olympic Association needs to wake up. World sport is changing and we cannot be complaining about breakdancing being included.
Every detail in the 2024 Paris Olympics programme document needs to be read in detail. If not, India will be left far behind even while dreaming about medals in the Olympics.
Mr. S. Kannan
Senior, Sports Journalist
