Americanizing Indian Olympic Sport System

This is a time of India day or Indian Independence Day which should necessarily pave way for the topics for the growth of India. This would be an India round up post focusing more on the Indian standing in Olympics. We have witnessed the spectacular Olympics 2024 coming to an end today in Paris. I have been never in U.S. at the time of Olympics as I was stationed back home in India in 2016, 2020. Ever since I became acquainted with U.S., it became a two-nation theory. Living in U.S. gives a sense of pride by looking at their Olympic exploits. But it has become exactly opposite when it comes to Indian standing in these sports. We become friends with those who are in same level, or we do business with equals or we talk with little care when representing similar nations as home and second home. Going against all these, the countries which are poles apart in sports have become my home and second home. It is same with many other Indians as well. For this reason, maybe we should cut back on the talk, stay in the limits and respect more when dealing with U.S. Rather than representing countries which are poles apart, it should be our endeavor to bridge the gap and this post is my attempt in that direction. Let us level it up and match our standing, if not now, at least in the near future.

In the just concluded Paris Olympics, U.S. bagged 126 medals and stood in first position. On the other hand, India won 6 medals and stood in 71st place among the nations. As a foreign worker in U.S., it is indeed a moment of pride to live in a country which gives so much of weightage for sports and stands first in world. China stood second by getting as many gold as U.S. but fell behind in total medal count. On the other hand, a country with similar population unfortunately stood behind scores of other nations. This is totally unacceptable and the same is repeating every four years. Simple, why can’t we run, why can’t we be more athletic, why can’t we work hard and become champions in at least few sports. I gave a prepared speech in a toastmasters meet way back in 2010 about the good Indian standing in commonwealth games held in Delhi in 2010. India stood in second place by getting 101 medals including 38 gold, leaving behind countries like England, Canada, Kenya, South Africa, Singapore etc. – the same countries which better India in almost every Olympics. Unfortunately, it is my last few good words about Indian sports or those feelings which are good to feel about being Indian when it comes to sports. India never performed so good in commonwealth games henceforth and we can least talk about Olympics. Let me tell a very sad statistic – India has won just 41 medals in the history of Olympics since 1896. To compare, U.S. won 3094 medals and remains the most prolific medal winning nation in the history of Olympics. India won just 1% of the medals won by U.S. 

If we look at the just concluded Olympics, Paris 2024 has been truly spectacular. It is the first Olympics after pandemic and France has hosted it well. This Olympics have been filled with many great moments. Events held at iconic Parisian landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées, provided breathtaking backdrops and added a unique charm to the Games. The introduction of advanced broadcasting techniques and virtual reality experiences allowed fans to engage with the Games in new ways. Paris 2024’s commitment to sustainability, including the use of existing venues and eco-friendly initiatives, set a new standard for future Olympic Games. French swimmer Leon Marchand emerged as the standout athlete of the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning the most individual medals. He secured a total of five medals, including four golds. His remarkable performance drew comparisons to legendary swimmer Michael Phelps. Manu Bhaker won 2 bronze medals in shooting which is a first for Indian women shooter and a rare feat for an Indian. 

We the Indians continue to remind about the poor state of affairs every four years but fall way short of putting the lessons into implementation. I still remember, in the year 2000, one woman from Andhra won the lone bronze medal in weightlifting and it was celebrated as the biggest achievement of 1 billion nation. 24 years have passed since then and we haven’t progressed much. Every medal is rare to come by and it is celebrated as ultimate prize. There will be rhetoric every four years on progress to be made but very little action on the ground, else there would be consistency in improvement and increase in medal count.

How can we bridge the gigantic gap with the top performing nation in Olympics. This time around it should be different. We really need to come up with results in the next outing and if India needs to have any chance of hosting Olympics in future. The country which doesn’t have a minimum base sports culture cannot talk about hosting Olympics. The entire sports arena has to be viewed differently in India and there has to be huge change in how we approach sports. Let us learn the lessons from U.S. in this regard and repurpose our education system to create champion athletes. I can remember, our schools doesn’t encourage playing and there are name-sake sport hours and competitions which doesn’t take the players with any seriousness or development. I have been staying in U.S. for couple of years and seen on the ground how sporting culture sprouts from the grassroots. Every interested kid can attend multiple game sessions or coaching classes and this begins right from a young age. The kids attend classes like running, swimming, basket ball or whatever they are interested in which is overseen by good coaches. The talent is spotted at a very young age and when the interest is turned into your job identity, you will never look back. This is how champion Olympians are made  in this country – by having avenues at the grassroots level, identifying talent early and shaping them into future athletes by giving all possible support.

I will consolidate the reasons why U.S. has been a dominant force in these games below. 
1.	The journey of future Olympian often begins with grassroots programs that introduce young children to various sports. These programs are usually run by local clubs, schools, and community organizations. 
2.	Talented young athletes are identified through youth competitions and school sports. Events like the Junior Olympics and high school championships play a crucial role in spotting potential. The U.S. has a robust system for identifying and nurturing athletic talent. Schools and colleges play a crucial role in this process.
3.	The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Centers provide state-of-the-art facilities and coaching for elite athletes. These centers offer specialized training, medical support, and sports science services.
4.	Many athletes benefit from the robust college sports system, particularly through NCAA programs. Colleges offer scholarships, high-level coaching, and competition opportunities, which are essential for athlete development. There is a quota and tremendous support from colleges for athletes.
5.	Colleges actively recruit athletes through scouting and recruitment programs. High school athletes are often identified and offered scholarships based on their performance and potential.
6.	Access to experienced and professional coaches is vital. Many top athletes work with personal coaches who help them refine their techniques and strategies.
7.	Financial support from sponsors, grants, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee helps athletes focus on their training without financial stress.
8.	Advanced sports science and medical support ensure athletes are in peak physical condition. This includes nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy, and injury prevention.
9.	Sports are deeply ingrained in American culture, with a strong societal emphasis on athletics as a means of achievement and identity. This cultural backdrop cultivates a competitive spirit that drives both athletes and communities to excel.

India lacks and lags in all these areas. Is there any athlete identified in our school system and encouraged to pursue the interest. Does Indian schools and colleges give any importance to sports. If it is so, we could have won 10000 medals with the number of human resources our country has. The huge potential is never tapped and left to waste for very long. When we cannot support and nurture sport persons in our households, we cannot celebrate sport achievements either. I am very fond of sports and won first prizes in Kho-Kho, running etc. but these sport sessions or facilities are not in place in high school where I couldn’t pursue or continue my interests. The Indian sporting landscape has to be Americanized from bottom-up, if there is any merit accorded to the last 125 years of Olympic excellence from this nation. China did it, it is a living example and there is no reason why a similar nation cannot progress for so long. That is only way we could tap our potential, grow from our current state and lead us towards a sporting nation in the next 125 years.