Indian Athletes Handed List of Dos and Don’ts for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A complete list of dos and don’ts for Indian athletes participating in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 was spelled out by India’s chef de mission Vikas Sisodia during a meeting he held with team managers of 15 disciplines on April 7.

The list included instructions such as no violence, no sexual misbehavior, avoiding binge drinking, vandalism, stealing or misplacing electronic appliances from apartments at the Commonwealth Games Village in Australia, the Indian Express reported.

The Charter of Good Conduct stipulated that athletes should “refrain from gambling, betting or providing information to anybody that could use that information or attempt to manipulate a sporting event for inappropriate or illegal reasons,” the report said.

The unofficial warning was given after 325 athletes, officials and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) signed on two different undertakings. The undertakings prohibit them from gambling and also ensure that even their family members don’t place bets on the athletes. It also stops them from making racial comments.

The Entry and Eligibility Conditions Form, required to be signed by the athletes, says, “I will not bet on myself, other participants from my CGA (Commonwealth Games Association, in this case IOA) or any competitor or opponent (whether to win or lose), I will prevent members of my family or friends from doing so.”

The keys to the apartments of athletes and officials at the Games Village can only be accessed after signed copies of the two forms are submitted. While the “Team India Charter of Good Conduct” specifies guidelines for the behavior of the team while the games are on, the “Entry and Eligibility Conditions Form” lays down the ethical facets of the sport. “Refrain from any behaviors which are likely to intimidate, offend, insult or humiliate another person based on their sex, disability, race, color, age, religion, national or ethnic origin,” it added.

It is important to maintain decorum on and off the field, Sisodia said, adding that these guidelines have been made according to the regulations specified by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

“The fine for a missing towel is Au$10 while if they lose a key, we have to shell out Au$5 for a duplicate one. By the time the Games end, we might end up paying a fine of around Au$200. But if any expensive item goes missing or is damaged, the concerned team will have to pay for it,” an IOA official was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

“While our athletes are generally very well-behaved, this is a precautionary measure. After all, the reputation of our country is at stake,” Sisodia said, according to the report.

When the wrestling team of India checked into their rooms on April 7 — it was occupied by the basketball teams previously — three kettles could not be found. This meant a fine of Au$60 (Au$ 20 per kettle). However, it was later found in one of the shelves in a cupboard.

The Commonwealth Games began on April 4 and will go on until April 15. India’s boxing team was embroiled in a controversy earlier after a syringe was found in their room at the Commonwealth Games village. The team doctor was let off with a written reprimand since the syringe was used to administer vitamin B to a player who had been unwell.