Nagadarsan Suresh

50th best athletic country in the world

Slovenia, Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe?SizeStabilityDiversity

Indian sports

Minus cricket that is..IPL, huge contracts, dedicated fans and demi-gods

Efforts at grassroots levelC.K. Kesavan memorial school, KoruthoduK.P. Thomas, the legendary coachPension FundTrained Shiny Wilson (Asian Games double gold), Anju Bobby George (Olympian and world no.4), Jincy Philips 170 young athletes for free

Efforts at grassroots levelParalympic Archery Federation of India in AhmednagarTo encourage physically challenged girls to take up the sportSponsorship and donations in the first year110 researchers per million, as opposed to 633 in China and 5000 in Japan

Efforts by MNCsNational sportEfforts by ESPN StarBringing hockey to a more affluent audienceFalling revenues since the second yearFIFAs several initiatives in Bengal and Kerala

Mike Miltner

Miltners storyBurned out ski instructorBought snowboard models from a bankrupt companyBi-SkisMultiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, children with Down Syndrome

The baneInnovation is interpreted in several waysThe weightlifting exampleThe promise of gloryLure of money in the poorer sections of the societyThe promise of jobsUnscrupulous coachesThe promise of fame and money

A Solution?Government needs to contribute healthily to sportsSeparate bureaucracy and sportsPriya Ranjan Dasmunshi, K.P.S. Gill (charges of harassment, corruption)Change in mindset of parentsPrivate players required even without guaranteed profitsThe role of cricketersIts a symbiotic relationship

What can we do?Sports entrepreneurs?Corporate Sporting ResponsibilityEncourage visionaries like K.P. ThomasMonetarily and in terms of publicityPublicity!

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