India Pushes New Sports Bill: Will BCCI Comply? | Vantage With Palki Sharma | N18G

Summary

The Indian government has introduced a transformative sports bill aimed at reforming the administration of sports in the country. Key provisions include term and age limits for executives, the establishment of a national sports election panel, and a more diverse decision-making team within federations. The bill also proposes the creation of a national sports board, a sports tribunal to settle disputes, and bringing all federations, including the BCCI, under the Right to Information Act. This bill aligns with India’s Olympic ambitions and seeks to create a more transparent, accountable, and efficient sports system.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Indian government introduced a new sports bill in the Lok Sabha aimed at reforming sports administration.
• 😀 The bill sets age and term limits for key officials in sports federations, ensuring they cannot serve for more than 12 years or beyond the age of 70 (75 in certain cases).
• 😀 A national sports election panel will be created, composed of former election commissioners, to oversee fair internal elections and prevent rigging.
• 😀 The executive committees of sports federations will be capped at 15 members, with mandatory inclusion of former athletes (2 members) and women (4 members).
• 😀 A national sports board will be established, with the authority to suspend or derecognize federations that fail to comply with regulations, including audits and fair elections.
• 😀 A sports tribunal will be formed, headed by a Supreme Court judge, to handle disputes in the sports world, aiming for faster justice.
• 😀 The sports tribunal will have civil court powers, and its verdicts can only be challenged in the Supreme Court.
• 😀 All sports federations, including the BCCI (Indian Cricket Board), will be brought under the RTI (Right to Information) Act, promoting transparency and accountability.
• 😀 The bill aims to enhance transparency in sports governance, particularly as India aims for greater Olympic success and possibly hosting the 2036 Olympics.
• 😀 This new bill addresses long-standing issues in Indian sports, such as mismanagement, favoritism, and lack of diversity in decision-making bodies.

Q & A

What is the new sports bill introduced in the Indian Parliament aiming to reform?

The new sports bill aims to overhaul Indian sports administration by setting term and age limits for executives, establishing more diverse decision-making teams, ensuring greater transparency, and introducing measures for better governance within sports federations.

What are the age and term limits proposed for executives in sports federations?

The bill proposes that executives, such as presidents, treasurers, and secretaries, should not be older than 70 years (or 75 in certain cases). Additionally, they can only serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms, totaling 12 years.

Why is this sports bill considered a much-needed reform?

The reform is considered essential because many sports federations in India have been controlled by politicians for decades without accountability. This bill aims to break the trend of long-term control by individuals or families and ensure fresh leadership.

Can you provide an example of long-term leadership in Indian sports federations?

One example is Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who served as the president of the Archery Association for over 40 years. Another example is the Kas family, which led the Tennis Association from 1966 to 2023.

What is the role of the National Sports Election Panel proposed in the bill?

The National Sports Election Panel, made up of former election commissioners, will oversee the internal elections of sports federations. Its goal is to eliminate rigging, intimidation, and ensure fair elections.

How does the bill plan to ensure more diversity in sports federations' decision-making bodies?

The bill mandates that each sports federation’s executive committee be limited to 15 members, with at least two being former athletes and four being women, ensuring more diverse and inclusive decision-making.

What powers will the National Sports Board have under the new bill?

The National Sports Board will have the authority to oversee all national sports federations, including the power to suspend or derecognize them if they fail to hold fair elections or violate internal rules. The board will also require annual audits of these bodies.

What is the purpose of setting up a sports tribunal as part of the bill?

The sports tribunal will be responsible for resolving disputes within the world of sports, such as issues related to elections, trials, or internal rules. The tribunal will be headed by a Supreme Court judge and will have the powers of a civil court, with its decisions only being challengeable in the Supreme Court.

How will the bill impact the Right to Information (RTI) Act in relation to sports federations?

Under the new bill, all sports federations, including the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), will come under the RTI Act. This means that these federations will have to disclose information and be held accountable, increasing transparency in their operations.

Why is the inclusion of the BCCI under the RTI Act significant?

The inclusion of the BCCI under the RTI Act is significant because the BCCI has long been exempt from this law, allowing it to operate independently without public scrutiny. The new bill aims to bring it under government oversight, ensuring more accountability, especially with cricket returning to the Olympics in 2028.