Games has turned into cultural extravaganza: Usha

As yet another National Games progresses amid organisational lapses and controversies, legendary sprint queen P T Usha feels that the event has transformed into a carnival in which artists benefit more than sportspersons.

Though the Games has helped improve the sports infrastructure at the grassroots level, Usha felt the event would not be of much help to the athletes preparing for international events including the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

“The National Games is an Olympic-format event. But, organisers seem to concentrate more on the pomp and show of the opening and closing ceremonies than giving due importance to sports and sports stars,” Usha told PTI in an interview.

“The ongoing Games are no different. They try to ensure the participation of maximum number of artists in the inaugural and closing ceremonies and make it a big celebration,” the legendary athlete said.

However, Usha felt it was also hard to ignore the sports infrastructure that has come up solely because of the Games. “It helps upcoming sports stars to get better facilities including good stadiums, tracks and other essential infrastructure. I think, that is the only benefit of conducting the Games,” said Usha.

“It is really stupid to compare between Olympics and the National Games. Olympics is a well-prepared event and the National Games is completely the opposite. We will easily get the complete schedule and the other details of athletics or any other event of the 2016 Rio Olympics months before.”