India, Pakistan, and Olympic Politics: A Serious Truth with a Hint of Humor

 

Musarrat Ullah  Jan- Kikxnow Digital Creator

India has once again decided to play against Pakistan in the game of sports diplomacy, and this at a time when the IOC has levied sanctions over Indonesia's Israeli visa scandal. The first thought that comes to one's mind is: how has India turned sports into a political stage, and now are the players on the field or the diplomats at the table?

First, it’s important to understand that India’s Ministry of Sports shows no shame in supporting competition against Pakistan. It claims the Olympic Charter allows them to prevent any country from playing “for racial, religious, or political reasons.” That’s like saying, “We’ll invite you—but only if you don’t criticize us or bring your government’s policies into it.”

It is a fact that after the Pulwama attacks, India broke off bilateral relations with Pakistan. The surprise element is the decision of India to continue with “multilateral competitions.” This simply means that if there is some global sports convention, and Pakistan is present, Indian players too will be there—but a safe distance away, much like two neighbors trying to avoid a street clash.

All of this is happening in the context of the IOC's strict stance. After Israeli athletes were denied visas in Indonesia, the IOC imposed global sports sanctions. Looking at that, India immediately thought: "Yes, we must play against Pakistan; otherwise, our relationship with the Olympic Charter could be in danger." The same Olympic Charter which most athletes read once and forget, while the Ministry of Sports reads it and uses it as a political tool.

Interestingly, the IOC warned Indonesia that it cannot host international competitions unless all athletes are allowed entry. That might have made India think: “Do we need to do something similar?” In practice, India’s strategy is following the same pattern: play, but also manage politics with care, and ensure no one says later that their decision to compete against Pakistan was emotional.

Now, look through the players' eyes: they train only for the game and now are performing on a political playing field. And it's like the players are asking: "If we do well, will people cheer or boo us?" Indian athletes, just like USOPC teams, face that same dilemma—but they take it so seriously that they more often than not act less like athletes and more like diplomatic advisors.

Another curious point is that the Ministry of Sports of India believes that the case of a boycott against Pakistan endangers the Olympic goals of India. This is the same ministry that came under heavy criticism on social media just days ago, so one can only imagine the scene: the public is angry, the IOC is strict, and the ministry says, “Trust us, we’re doing the right thing!” It’s like a teacher in class declaring, “I’m right, no matter what the students say.”

The Pakistani players might now be thinking, “Will India come to play or just for politics?” While India would say, “We are here but should we play or follow the instructions of the IOC?” The whole situation has taken the shape of a comedy show in which every actor acts seriously but the reality forces everybody to laugh.

Coming to international rules and regulations, the IOC says: "All qualified athletes participate in all international competitions without any discrimination, irrespective of their country." The irony is that such rules get caught up in political webs. If visas are denied by a country, sanctions are brought in; if there is a boycott by a country, the Olympic Charter is invoked. Rules and politics have become some sort of comedy drama on the sports field.

 

And the stand itself of India sounds like a classic comedy. Following the Pulwama attacks, it broke ties with Pakistan but continued to compete against them in multilateral events. It invoked IOC sanctions and the Olympic Charter, and finally said, "We're right, and our Olympic goals are safe." The most interesting part of this whole scenario is that athletes find themselves caught between sports and politics. The public shares their comments on social media: "Is it a game or a political drama?"

Imagine this is a Hollywood movie: every athlete is a spy, every game is a mission, and every match part of a political plot. In the end, the winner isn't the athlete who scores most points—but he or she best balances the Olympic Charter with political interests.

It would be apt to say that the Ministry of Sports, India, has taken a "right" step; however, the combination of sports mixed with politics presents a scene that is simultaneously serious, funny, and complex: players are on the field, politics is on the field, and the public watches it all-sometimes laughing and sometimes astonished.

 It reminds us that sports are no longer confined to the field; they happen in the most diplomatic, legal, and political of arenas. And yes, the funniest actors in this scenario are probably the rules and the Charter themselves-serious, yet often forcing everyone to burst into laughter. So, the next time you are watching the Olympics, remember: the players run, the ball flies, and politics quietly adds its doses of humor, all part of the game.

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