It was at the 2000 Sydney Olympics that Sri Lanka fielded the largest contingent of 18 competitors in four sports in the history of the Games. The majority of them were athletes who had achieved the requisite qualifying standards after former Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake had provided incentives such as cars and houses for the Olympic pool during the golden era of athletics when Sri Lanka ruled the roost in Asia. This resulted in Susanthika Jayasinghe winning Sri Lanka’s second Olympic medal 52 years after Duncan White’s feat at the London Games.
“A lot of athletes achieved the Olympic qualifying standards. They (Minister Dissanayake and his secretary Sunil Gunawardena) actually made a huge difference in sport. Even Susanthika was able to win a medal because of that system and motivation and everything,” said a former national athlete who did not want to be embroiled in today’s politics.
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has doled out a similar ‘carrot’ of US$ 10,000 (Rs 2 million) each to those participating in this year’s Olympics a month before their departure to Tokyo.
But it is ostensibly a reward for having ‘qualified’ for the Games postponed from last year. However, in reality only (horse) showjumper Matilda Karlsson has qualified in equestrian while two athletes Nilani Ratnayake (3,000m steeplechase) and Yupun Abeykoon (100m) are on the verge of being selected via ranking points accumulated in the ‘Road to Tokyo’ unless their positions change before the June 29 deadline which is unlikely according to Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA) officials.
The rest of the participants have ‘qualified’ through what is generally known as ‘wildcards’ either through the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Tripartite Commission Invitation Places or Universality Places.
“No matter how many medals you have won or how many competitions you have been to, if you have been to the Olympics, that’s the best thing an athlete can have in his entire career. That is the huge motivation every single athlete can have,” said the former athlete who did not achieve his Olympic dream.
He opined that athletes should be treated like professionals as an insurance for their future (just like the cricketers) when they are committed to train morning and evening in preparation for Games like the Olympics.
“You are dedicating your whole life for sport and your country. When you retire, you have nothing. In other countries it’s not like that. They are professional athletes. It’s like doing a job. In Sri Lanka it doesn’t happen,” he said.
On other hand, Sri Lanka’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) president Suresh Subramaniam feels the financial motivation given to Tokyo-bound Olympians should have been linked to performance just like for the national cricketers who are having contractual issues with Sri Lanka Cricket.
“The minister has done it in good faith but the issue is the way he had linked payments for cricketers. Even this (Olympic dole out) should have been linked to performance. You must have the same yardstick across the board for everybody. You can’t say for one sport it is about performance and another for others. Qualifying for the Olympics itself is a great thing. It’s not an easy thing. It’s a great honour,” said the former Sri Lanka Davis Cup tennis star.
The NOC chief also warned Olympic participants that they should not consider going to Tokyo as a joy ride, especially with the majority of them being there on invitation.
“Actually, only one or two qualify on their own merit. We could have given it (Rs.2 million incentive) for their participation after the event even if they don’t win a medal,” said Subramanium.
Subramaniam said they are using their good offices with the (International Olympic Committee) to ensure maximum participation of Sri Lanka’s athletes in Tokyo. They have appealed for a wildcard for US-based high jumper Ushan Thiwanka Perera who is 0.3 centimetres short of the Olympic qualifying standard but was denied participation in Kazakhstan because of visa wrangles.
“He was to go to Kazakhstan but their embassy didn’t grant him a visa. We are appealing to the IOC. This is unfair. According to the Olympic Charter no country can prevent another country from participating,” said Subaramaniam.
The NOC is also pushing to get more invitations for athletes who are favourably placed in the ‘Road to Tokyo’ rankings and also confident of getting confirmation for entries from judo and archery.
On the selection of artistic gymnast Milka Gehani de Silva over Canadian-born rhythmic gymnast Anna-Marie-Ondaatje, the NOC president clarified that she has been training in Japan sponsored by their (Japan) gymnastics federation and Olympic Solidarity programme for the last two years.
“She may even qualify on merit, not a wildcard when the latest Asian rankings are released next week giving us the opportunity to push for another sport,” said Subramanium.
Milka was the first reserve ahead of Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak for the Asian quota and became eligible to compete from the zone following the cancellation of the 9th Senior Asian Championships, which were scheduled to be held from May 29-June 1 in China due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to reports.
“When there is a close call they would only go by the ranking. Not only for gymnastics but for any sport, they first look at ranking. This girl (Milka) was better placed,” said Subramaniam confirming they had made a Tripartite Invitation application for Anna-Marie as well in 2019.