Every four years we live in hope of a miracle. The Olympics do not have the same importance for Indians as, say, the World Cup of cricket, but still the underachievers that most of us are, we love basking in the glory of some of our sporting icons who beat hardships day in, day out to still live hard and fight it out against the best in the world.

Beijing 2008 is no different. Almost all the media houses across the country have already started a hue and cry about India’s chances at the Games. The optimism is heard daily as some of the most average sportsmen leaving with the Indian contingent are hailed as sport stars ready to make their nation proud.

So where lies the basic problem? Why can’t we do well on the big stage? To me the problem lies in all of us. As a sportsman there is no bigger sin then crying foul over a lack of money. At the end of the day it is he himself who chooses to play and his passion is what should drive him.

What I fail to understand time and again is how countries like Kazakhstan and Kenya stand way above us in the points tally when those athletes struggle for even two square meals a day. I'm reminded of people like Aslam Sher Khan, who learned the art of hockey with broken sticks and still brought laurels for us.

Industry should also shoulder a huge amount of blame, though things are improving in this area. Companies have started to fund some sportsmen, but if we do see the reasons for India’s sustained failure in the Games over a period of time, one of the major points to come out would be lack of funding.

The media must hold its hands up for not covering other sports with the same kind of enthusiasm that they cover cricket. There has been a lot of step-motherly treatment for other sports in this country but, fortunately for all of us, things are improving.

But the biggest blame-takers should be all of us. At the end of the day, why should a corporation put in money for something which does not give branding to its name? Why should a media house highlight stuff which is not interesting to its viewers? At the end of the day, nothing is charity and these are businesses which work for profits.

Unless and until we as individuals give importance to sports in this country, how is its popularity supposed to rise? Believe me, if we can make cricket a religion in India, we have the potential to force all these big businesses to put in oodles of money for the sake of development of other sports. 

I have heard cynics say that we don’t need to put in money for building sports infrastructure since 30 per cent of our population lives below the poverty line - but had that been the attitude we would have never won the World Cup of 1983. That victory propelled cricket craziness in India and money poured in through privatisation of broadcasts in the mid 90s. Hosting a big sporting event means the growth of infrastructure, tie-ups with companies and jobs to many people.

Sport is an industry in itself, even if you leave aside that it also brings joy to many people in the process - joy which is priceless. The joy the Brazilian kid gets playing football or his Indian counterpart gets hitting a six is unmatched. In that moment he forgets all his hardships.

Thus, I would conclude by saying that I hope the 57-member contingent which is going to the Games and which has some star performers who are considered medal hopefuls do bring in joy to a sports-crazy nation like ours which has been craving success.

Best of luck, Team India!