Olympics Chef de Mission, Air Force Wing Commander Chandana Liyanage says that the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) is currently in the process of drafting the requisite law to be incorporated into a bond agreement to be signed with the Sri Lankan contingent which is set to leave for the Paris Olympics 2024, shortly.
He said the bond which would be to the effect of Rs. 10 million will be in place for Lankan contingents for all future Olympic Games.
He noted that it was being implemented to dispense with the embarrassing culture of sportsmen and women who tend to disappear for personal reasons when on tour.
“We as the NOCSL and with the backing of the Sports Ministry have taken this far-sighted decision,” the Air Force official said.
“This decision will go a long way towards ending the long-lasting practice of sportsmen and officials who tend to go missing when on overseas sports assignments. Once this bond is signed those who envision hopes of vanishing when on tour will invariably be forced to think twice of their shady actions. We hope to draft this agreement and get it signed by those in the traveling party.”
Humiliating actions
The Chef de Mission added that though there had been such a regulation in existence previously concerning the Olympics, it had not been activated until now and stressed that times were such they (NOCSL) were unable to overlook it anymore.
He pointed out that it was the country’s image that was being tarnished by the humiliating actions of a few while wasting public money incurred for the upkeep of such sportsmen and women.
He therefore called for the unwelcome tradition to be done away with at least now via the formulation of new laws.
No wildcards for LA 2028
Wing Commander Liyanage also mentioned that according to World Athletics (WA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations formulated recently, there will be no more wildcards for future quadrennial Games.
He explained that from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics direct qualifications will be the only form of gaining entry to the showpiece Games while tripartite invitations will be no longer in effect.
Meanwhile, the NOCSL has selected star female javelin thrower Dilhani Lekamge and talented shuttler Viren Nettasinghe to be the two flag bearers for Sri Lanka at the French showpiece.
The 15-member SL squad for the Paris event includes athletes Tharushi Karunaratna (800 m), Dilhani Lekamge (Javelin Throw), Aruna Darshana (400 m), Viren Nettasinghe (Badminton), Kyle Abeysinghe (Swimming), and Ganga Senevirathne (Swimming).
The contingent is also set to comprise the coaches of the athletes, along with NOCSL and Sports Ministry officials.