Sport the difference?

One man's meat is another man's poison goes the cliche. Yet in this case, one man's resignation is another country's lesson. The Winter Olympics may only be peripheral to the Indian consciousness, but here is an example that makes one rethink about the sporting system in the country. On Wednesday, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Leonid Tyagachev, resigned following the country's poor performance at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. In this context 'poor performance' meant that the country had won only (!) 15 medals finishing sixth in the overall medal standings.

Being draped over sports cars at several motor sport competitions, women are used as gimmicks at sporting events

The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for a change in athlete training. More heads are expected to roll. Contrast this with the sporting fiefdom in India who stay glued to their chair for years, firmly enough to give a Fevicol tube a run for its money, never mind results or even embarrassing controversies overseas.

Embarrassing anecdotes have been many -- from doping problems to gender test failures -- and once, even the shameful prospect of two runners running a 'trial' at the Olympics pre-event to see who would qualify for the relay squad. More facilities, better money and infrastructure for players are key to sporting accomplishment, but sporting officialdom needs to have the proverbial axe hanging over their heads too.

More importantly, it is not the small fry in the chain who has to pay as is the case, but the big heads must be on the chopping block. Post games, analyses and inquires are rightly met with skepticism by Indian fans. Let's mean business beginning with the Commonwealth Games this year.

While on sport, with Women's Day (March 8) just around the corner, one hopes to see an end to women being used as objects at sporting events. From wearing tiny Playboy bunny-styled costumes and holding up round numbers at professional boxing events, to being draped over sports cars at several motor sport competitions, why should women be portrayed as a gimmick at sporting extravaganzas?

I wonder whether women athletes on the medal stands cringe when they see women in their sport used as appendages oozing sex and steaming up things at the medal ceremony. This is an uncomfortable dichotomy, saluting women achievers and objectifying them at the same time. A sexist duality that needs a Tae Kwon Do-style kick on the posterior.