Commonwealth games - what the heck?
A question that often comes to my mind is that why are we still the part of an entity called Common Wealth? It is a colonial legacy, it constantly reminds us that once we were servants of a mighty imperialist nation which is now fast going downhill. Perhaps our political leaders like to remind us of our colonial past, perhaps it helps in getting some aids. It certainly does not help the international cause, being on the same bench with some rogue nations who have gone more downhill than their erstwhile ruler.
Point is, why waste so much tax payer's money with this extravaganza? What will the entire nation gain through this? even if that means infrastructure development of a single city, can't this happen in isolation? Why do we need an event for developing infrastructure? what is the return that we are expecting? More tourist inflow from commonwealth countries? Hogwash. Most tourists in India are from non commonwealth countries like USA, Japan and Germany. Who will spend their money and come to see commonwealth games where not even the second rates athletes will participate,certainly not from the best countries? So this entire event is hyped up for providing cut money to the politicians and their contractor cronies in the name of infrastructure development. A frenzied media will support the event (obviously, they are paid by the same politicians, money changes hands). everybody in the administration gains, politicians from all class, bureaucrats, businessmen. Only losers are common men and tax payers. DU students lose their hostels because they are driven out apparently to accommodate guests. Hotels runs by politicians and their friends in business raise their rates so common tourists are fleeced. Media gets headlines for few days to up their TRP. Security establishments can get a lot of money to keep their lot busy. And the project is managed as badly as ever with poor quality infrastructure which will crumble once the games are over and its memory fades into oblivion. An Olympics or a FIFA world cup would have been much better because atleast they will enhance the prestige. Who cares about commonwealth games?
Point is, why waste so much tax payer's money with this extravaganza? What will the entire nation gain through this? even if that means infrastructure development of a single city, can't this happen in isolation? Why do we need an event for developing infrastructure? what is the return that we are expecting? More tourist inflow from commonwealth countries? Hogwash. Most tourists in India are from non commonwealth countries like USA, Japan and Germany. Who will spend their money and come to see commonwealth games where not even the second rates athletes will participate,certainly not from the best countries? So this entire event is hyped up for providing cut money to the politicians and their contractor cronies in the name of infrastructure development. A frenzied media will support the event (obviously, they are paid by the same politicians, money changes hands). everybody in the administration gains, politicians from all class, bureaucrats, businessmen. Only losers are common men and tax payers. DU students lose their hostels because they are driven out apparently to accommodate guests. Hotels runs by politicians and their friends in business raise their rates so common tourists are fleeced. Media gets headlines for few days to up their TRP. Security establishments can get a lot of money to keep their lot busy. And the project is managed as badly as ever with poor quality infrastructure which will crumble once the games are over and its memory fades into oblivion. An Olympics or a FIFA world cup would have been much better because atleast they will enhance the prestige. Who cares about commonwealth games?
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