For the last few months, I have been feeling that it will be very difficult to run sports for federations in the time to come if the government continues to show its inability to fund them properly. Although the federal government does not say that it will not fund the federations, there have been hints that it will not fund the federations as generously as they want. Because of depreciating Pakistani currency, it has become extremely difficult for federations to ensure a full-fledged participation of their players in international events. Almost every federation is struggling in this respect. They don’t know what to do.Some federations have realised that it is useless to expect anything from the government, so they have started contacting the corporate sector for support. Involving the corporate sector in Pakistan’s sports is the only way for federations to survive. But I don’t think that bringing the corporate sector will fulfill all our sports’ needs. The government will still have to play its role and it will need to enhance its funding to federations.

The situation of our federations is not good. Some don’t even have their offices. Some have offices, but not the money to keep them functional. Most of the federations have nothing in their kitty. Neither do they have the capability to generate their own revenues. They say that the corporate sector is not interested in funding Olympic sports.

The federations will need to create proper marketing wings but again it will need money if you keep proper manpower for that purpose.

Federations’ officials work on honorary basis and are elected individuals. They need to look after their families. It’s not easy for them to give all their attention to sports. Most of the federations don’t get support from their international bodies. The state funding and some small sponsors are their only means through which they manage their routine affairs. But all these issues will have to be sorted out if we are to compete at the international level.

Although some state sources say that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) will provide foreign coaches to federations, no concrete step has been taken in that direction.

Some federations can’t even make a token participation of their athletes in World Championships and Asian Championships. Because of Covid, the expenses of featuring in international events have gone up.

The state should not lose time if it intends to help federations on that front. Most of the federations need foreign coaches and it is not easy to bring in a foreign coach these days because of the depreciation of Pakistani currency. Even an ordinary coach will cost a federation a minimum of 3000 US dollars per month. They must also provide him accommodation, food and transport. And it’s tough for federations. The other day a federation official told me that the PSB was in search of sponsors itself. It’s not bad if the state tries to involve the corporate sector and helps federations and players. The PSB intends to do branding of some top players in various sports disciplines and various companies will back some top athletes on a regular basis.

If we look around, even in England, which has a strong corporate culture, the state spends money on sports. In India, which has a strong corporate culture, the state meets most of the demands of the federations by funding them heavily. And federations then add to it by involving the corporate sector. Consequently, India’s stature in the world of sports is growing.

We will have to meet the growing challenges collectively. But we will have to take the step immediately and struggle towards establishing a vibrant and dynamic system of sports governance. We need some skilled staff in federations who could make the federations capable of attracting the corporate sector. Our federations are unable to capitalise on the achievements of their leading athletes who have been winning international medals regularly.

There is a method to do so. The state does not want government sector’s employees to serve federations and it will also badly hit the growth of federations. If we have some top officials in federations relating from bureaucracy and other influential posts it will be easy for them to bring in money for federations.

Some federations can’t even make a token participation of their athletes in World Championships and Asian Championships. Because of Covid, the expenses of featuring in international events have gone up. You need to stay at the designated hotels and need to spend some time in isolation. Covid tests and rising ticket prices add to the expenses. In some sports even players try to help federations to ensure their participation in international events by purchasing their own tickets. What else can they do as they are to protect their careers.

I think it’s high time for federations to devise strategies to meet their expenses if the state is not able to fund them properly. Otherwise, they will not be able to survive.

73.alam@gmail.com