Olympics And India
The Olympic Games is the world’s foremost sports competition, where almost all the nations (more than 200) participate. The first modern Games was hosted at the Panathenaic stadium in Athens in 1896, where 241 athletes from 14 nations competed in 43 events. World Wars had affected three cancellations of the Games in 1916, 1940 and 1944. Political turmoils resulting into large boycotts during the Cold War limited the participation in the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games. The Olympics covers many rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag and torch, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
India first participated in Olympic Games in 1900 (Paris), with a lone athlete (Norman Pritchard) winning two silver medals in athletics. India first sent a team to the Summer Olympic Games in 1920, and has participated in every Summer Games since then. India has also competed at several Winter Olympic Games since 1964. But the more organised, official representation by India, was made in 1928 Amsterdam, with the formation of Indian Olympic Association in 1927. Indian athletes have won a total of 20 medals so far, mostly in field hockey (11). The men’s field hockey team was dominant in Olympic competition, winning eleven medals in twelve Olympiads between 1928 and 1980, including six successive gold medals from 1928–1956. In 2008 Beijing Olympics, shooter Abhinav Bindra scripted history by becoming the first individual athlete to win a gold medal for India. Bindra clinched the medal in 10m air rifle event to end India’s long wait for individual gold. Boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar bagged a bronze medal apiece in Beijing to take India’s medal tally to three, which is the country’s best performance in the quadrennial event so far.
Hockey wizard Dhyan Chand played a major role in Indian victory in the first three successive wins. It was definitely the golden era of Indian Hockey in Olympics, during which India played 24 matches and won all 24. India again won two more gold medals in Olympic hockey in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Apart from Hockey and a few fine performances in athletics, India’s record in the Olympics paints a dismal picture. Apart from the 8 gold medals, one silver medal and two bronzes in Hockey, India has won three silvers and three bronzes.
Bollywood rules as the number one source of entertainment. Family participation in sports is not encouraged; hence the young fail to garner any interest in it. One would think that a country that is able to write software for the world would surely be able enough to come up with a rational plan to resurrect its athletes. Private sponsorship is still in its nascent stage and only available to those who have shown some performance internationally. If India wants medals at Olympics then it has to look at a long term plan. A country that has secured only a handful of medals in over hundred years is hardly going to win dozens overnight. Changes have to be made at the grass root level.
The attitude of our people has to be changed. Family sports events like triathlons should be held over the weekends to encourage family participation. Special sports scholarships should be issued to the deserving. Selections should be strictly based on performance and state wise quotas should not be the criteria to compete. In time the country will do a turn around, and perhaps the future might see India performing better at the Olympics.
India have a capability to show more achievement in olympics if some major steps,investment and responsbility should be taken in all the games.and It is very good to see INDIA progressing in various fields and seeing the Fresh Talent INDIA has it will not be surprising INDIA emerging as a Top Performer .
This article is all about the history of Olympics in India. One can get the knowledge of Olympics here and the winners from India in various events under Olympics.
Olympics serve as a significant tool in globalising different national sports. A prestigious events, it binds all the countries with a common spirit- sportsmanship!
Many Indians have earned name & fame at Olympics & Indian sports like Archery have found a new life.
INDIA has really outperformed in respective fields of the OLYMPICS…..may it be any field like SHOOTING,BOXING,FREE STYLE WRESTLING…..It is very good to see INDIA progressing in various fields and seeing the Fresh Talent INDIA has it will not be surprising INDIA emerging as a Top Performer !!!
Olympics is the biggest event in the SPORTS which is held in every 4 years and it is the biggest because it includes every major sport, ranging from different categories of athletics to every major sport played outdoor or indoor in the world.
India, being the 2nd largest populous country in the world do not have a good record in the Olympics. They have always lacked due to the lack of the resources available to the sportsmen participating in the Olympics.
But now India is showing some promising signs as more and more people are reaching up to that level and are competing with the best in the world and are also beating them in some of the major sports.
It feels very Good to hear about progressing of India in Sports Field..Some more efforts still requires to make better to best
India is progressing in every field as so in sports also..We too have capabilities to withstand at par with our countries and bring glory to our nation at the international sports largest event provided we support our sportspersons and provide them necessary faclities to prove themselves at the international level…
India is progressing in every field and India is trying to prove themselves and bring glory to our nation at the international level.India too have capabilities to stand at par with other countries in the worlds largest sports event provided we support our sportspersons and give them all facilities neeeded for their improvement to prove themselves..
India is progressing event after event in the Olympics and has started providing platforms and supportive measures to the performers to bring more and more laurels to the country.
India needs to advance even further for taking thae charge to host olympics.
Olympics is the greatest competition for sports. It includes many games. Its celebrated like a occassion around the world.. Every country takes part in this competition. More you can get to know from the above article.. Really a good article.. Must read it..
The Olympic Games is the world’s foremost sports competition, where almost all the nations (more than 200) participate… India’s record in the Olympics paints a dismal picture. Apart from the 8 gold medals, one silver medal and two bronzes in Hockey, India has won three silvers and three bronzes.Bollywood rules as the number one source of entertainment. Family participation in sports is not encouraged; hence the young fail to garner any interest in it. One would think that a country that is able to write software for the world would surely be able enough to come up with a rational plan to resurrect its athletes. Private sponsorship is still in its nascent stage and only available to those who have shown some performance internationally. If India wants medals at Olympics then it has to look at a long term plan. A country that has secured only a handful of medals in over hundred years is hardly going to win dozens overnight. Changes have to be made at the grass root level.
Among the different competitions that are being played , Olympics is the prime comeptition. So, obviously performing well in the Olympics is what every sportsperson looks forward to because it not only provides the person international fame but also helps the world notice that the respective country is doing well in sports. For example, China has done immensely well in the last few Olympics because their government have been very supportive in this matter & have provided them with ample infrastructure. According to Population , India stands second to China only. But the performance in the Olympics for a country having more than a billion people has been noting more than dismal. The government should provide the athletes wioth proper infrastructure & send them on regular international compettions because one can do well only when he is performing with best because that’s how we improve. Another problem for the Indian sportspersons is most of them come from backward families , so they are malnourished. Even there have been complains lodged that the food provided at the coaching centres are not good & not up to the standard. So, the government need to look at this case also. ANd the foremost thing that we have to do is that well-t-do families should treat sports with respect because careers can be pursued there also. Many people also take their child to Cricket centres rather than other sports as Cricket which is not an Olympic sport is immensely popular in India. This mentality needs to change too to have India do well in Olympics.
The bright side is that lately sponsors are coming up to assist the sportstars other than cricket. And in the London Olympics , India had their best haul of 6medals. SO, that means we are moving the right direction.
Best wishes to all medalist. I think now people will give equal respect to all sports not only cricket. All medalist have made us proud. Proud to be Indian…
The Olympics were first started in Athens, Greece. India participated in Olympics in 1900, and they didn’t participate for next three editions. Again they started participating in the Olympics in 1920. Indian athletes have won a total of 26 medals, all at the Summer Games. For a period of time, India’s men’s field hockey team was dominant in Olympic competition, winning eleven medals in twelve Olympics between 1928 and 1980. The run included six successive gold medals from 1928–1956.
The golden era of indian olympic was from 1928-1980 when national men hockey team was dominating on the field had won 8 gold medal,2 bronze n 1 silver in 12 olympics n total medals won by India are 26 including 1 individual gold medal by Abhinav Bindra in shooting. India have a capability to show more achievement in olympics if some major steps,investment and responsbility should be taken in all the games.
OLYMPICS have given us many sport legends and taught us time and again that we have the potential to do wonders at international level..But we need the support of our people..We need to give the same attention to other sports also like we give to cricket..