Sports Officers’ Union concerned over hasty arrangements for marathon and road events

by Reemus Fernando

B.V.R. Jayalal, the president of the All Island Sports Officers Union expressed concerns over the hasty arrangements to conduct the grueling road events of the National Sports Festival at Kataragama on short notice.

The Department of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports has made hurried arrangements to conduct the marathon, cycling and race walking events of the National Sports Festival 2020 on March 26, 27 and 29th respectively.

Unlike at previous editions where the winners of respective provinces advanced to the national event, the 2020 edition will be held as an open event.

“We as the All Island Sports Officers Union have objected to conducting the marathon and other road events in such short notice. It is not the ideal time to conduct a marathon at Kataragama as the temperature will increase to soaring heights during this period. And the athletes have not had enough time to prepare for these events,” said Jayalal in an interview with The Island yesterday.

“The event is set to be an utter failure and the health of athletes will be at huge risk due to the heat. When athletes advance to this event from provincial level, provincial sports departments take the responsibility of athletes and their expenses are taken care of. But this time it is not. The athletes do not have enough time to prepare when such events are conducted at short notice,” said Jayalal.

“Administrators at top level have no idea what heat will do to athletes. And they do not know that coaches prepare their athletes according to a plan.”

“This is not the first time. Such faux passes keep on happening as the decisions are taken by officials who have no sports background. Administrative officials with no experience on technical matters in sports take vital decisions regarding sports. Such decisions will hamper sports,” he said.

“Of all the Provincial Directors of Sports there are only two who have climbed up the hierarchy after being in the Sports Officers Service. All others are administrative officials who have no sports background. We reckoned that Provincial Directors of Sports should be from the Sports Officers Service. I kept the Sports Minister informed of several issues of concern like these when he took over as the Sports Minister. We are waiting for him to take action,” he said.