Mumbai to Shanghai/Oops! We did it again…

My article got published in Hindustan Times - Mumbai Edition (page 4) on July 24 with a different heading.
Now I know why Olympics fail to infuse that excitement in me and many alike because we know that India is not participating in most of the games and if it does, at the risk of sounding pessimistic, it would struggle to attain top slot. And even if it does, I am afraid, it might be followed by some dope controversy to malign the charm and pride. And even if it does come out clean, the victory will be rejoiced for a moment with media undergoing over frenzy to cover every detail of the person and then send him/her to oblivion forever once the euphoria dies down.
While the countdown had long begun for other countries where they had been sweating it out day and night to sway away most of the top medals, India is, unfortunately sleeping away to glory. And some bit talent worthy of grooming would find itself trapped in the quagmire of politicians, lack of interest and funds. And let’ forget cricket for a moment please (it’s not part of Olympics).

India knows how not to promote sports and players and how to nip the talent in the bud. Now we can’t even use our age-old excuses such as money on sports is spent by some big nations with deep pockets. We are one of the fastest growing economies in the world and leaving our mark on the world map. Think of China, our closest competitor in Asia. Comparison never ceases to end between us -- be it our economies or our population. Come to think of it, China is also an Asian nation, the most populous country in the world and emerging powerful economies; yet when it comes to sports, we turn a blind eye to everything. Ever since it has been selected the venue for Olympics 2008, every Chinese took proud in the fact that it would be the host and has made all possible efforts, applied all possible sport techniques to be the main winning country as well.

Everyone right from a taxi driver to the staff from hospitality industry is doing its bit to be the best host known ever. A country, where the most spoken language of the world – English gets step motherly treatment has made it a mission not to let language be a barrier in communication and not let down its guest., It’s passion, Passion and PASSION…to make it happen, to do it, to show to the world is what an average Chinese is engulfed with. Braving the natural calamity, criticism, skepticism, China has emerged as a winner and now, is on the verge of taking over the world.

And the media is also not far away from having its share of flake. To the presspersons, Olympics means torch relay and who all participating in the event. More the people from Indian Film industry, better chances of its getting wider coverage. It’s more important to know if Aamir Khan is participating in the torch relay (due to Tibet-China issue) than to know who from the sports fraternity joining in. A leading lady as a torch bearer picture makes a better picture (read sells more) than a sportsperson doing the same.

But an optimist as I am, waiting for the day when Mumbai will become Shanghai and India will not only host Olympics but also dominate it as a winner.