Federal Parliament member Jeevan Ram Shrestha has been elected as the chairman of Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) for the second term. Shrestha is involved in Nepali sports for almost two decades. He has already served the NSC for two terms and the NOC as the general secretary. He has also served as the chairman of the South Asian Olympic Committee. The 13th South Asian Game (SAG), which was postponed for the third time due to contention, is being held from December 1. In this context, Khabarhub talked to Shrestha for his views. Excerpts:

You have been elected as the chairman of the National Olympic Committee for the second term. What are your plans?

Thank you. Currently, we are focused on the upcoming 13th South Asian Game (SAG) which is taking place in Kathmandu from December 1. This attaches importance to national pride. The NOC is doing all it can to make it a success despite having some limitations. Nepal is the member of the South Asian Olympic Committee as well as the member of the International Olympic Committee. The Olympic Committee can only decide. The government organizes the event. The government plays active roles in this regard. The NOC only coordinates with international games, ensures participation, provide accreditation and technical assistance.

The National Sports Development Bill is in National Assembly. Will the provisions contained in the Bill save the Nepali sports from the political intervention?

The Bill had contained a lot of loopholes, previously. The Bill has now reached the Parliament Secretariat after massive discussion in both the National Assembly and the House of Representatives.

A lot of loopholes surrounding the sports-related norms and values were rectified. Consultation with experts is taking place in two phases, currently. I am sure that everything will be fine once it is endorsed by the parliament.

13th SAF is just around the corner. How is infrastructure development taking place?

Some infrastructures are still under construction. We are telling them to complete it on time. The 13th SAG, however, will not stop due to the lack of infrastructure.

There have been complaints that there is a lack of cooperation subsisting between the Ministry of Sports, National Sports Council and NOC. Disputes have also surfaced. Could you please clarify it?

It is true that the dispute between the government, NOC and National Sports Council directly mars the players. If the players are hit, it will hit the development of sports, too. Nepali sports has been undergoing a kind of uncertainty. The laws enacted to regulate are confusing, unclear and lopsided.

Obviously, the Ministry of Sports is more powerful than NOC. But some leading to the disputes between the two.

The election of the NOC has recently been over. The NOC courted controversies for not taking approval from the NSC. Have the relations between the NOC and the NSC sourced?

No, it is baseless and misleading news. We are in good terms.  There are respect and coordination between the two. Minister for Youth and Sports, who is the official chairman of the NSC, reigns supreme. He was invited as the chief guest of the general meeting during the elections. It is just a rumor.

What are the significant achievements you have made during your two-decade-long career in the field of sports  

I have never got an opportunity to work smoothly. There were a lot of ups and downs during the period. I had to face a lot of obstructions, sit-ins and padlocking. That is why we could not work as we wanted. The NSC building was padlocked since I was elected as the chairman in October in 2015.

The government intervened in the activities of the NSC. A representative of the International Olympic Committee came to participate in the October election, but the government did not allow him to enter. As a result, the election was obstructed. All the organizations should be allowed to hold periodic elections. It is a democratic process.

Nepali players have not performed well in the international tournaments? When will it improve? 

It is necessary to organize sports in line with our international norms and values. Changes are not possible overnight.

Players cannot maintain consistency and give continuity to the sports field. They cannot dedicate to the field partly due to social responsibilities. They have to listen to family members and have to look for alternatives. Further, the players might change their career for a better future, for instance, to go abroad for higher study.