Sport - Chess   

Making a meal of the media bill

By Our Sports Reporter

HYDERABAD OCT. 20. Even as the `King' and `Queen' were being crowned in the second World Cup chess championship, the organisers of the mega event gave the media some `food for thought' with their manoeuvres off the 64-squares. How wise the mediamen turned after watching some superb games from the cream of players is a different matter altogether even as the organisers seemed determined to prove that the gentlemen would at least return home healthy! How else can one explain the staggering bill of Rs.9,14,182 (till October 19) for serving lunch and dinner to the media.

The amount is absolutely ridiculous considering that there were only six reporters and seven photographers regularly visiting the venue from the city and even if one includes the electronic media, the figure will not cross 25. Even if one calculates at the rate of Rs. 400 per person, one can never reach the staggering total the organisers have arrived at. What's more, the organisers proudly claim that the bills come under media expenditure (for lunch and dinner). And the Rs.9.14 lakhs include a whopping Rs.6,65,155 at Rs. 400 for each mediaperson for the dinner hosted after the inaugural function.

Such things happen due to lack of commitment and integrity. Why should we bother when the Government, which allocated Rs.2.75 crores for the event, is so `generous' in spending, is the refrain. Even a cursory glance at the dining halls by a responsible official would have saved a lot of money for the State exchequer as well as embarrassment for the media.

The online internet system which helps the handful of spectators watch the games on computer monitors is costing the organisers a fortune (Rs.17 lakhs). The systems went blank for more than four hours one day as the gentlemen in charge refused to air the games live citing dues from the organisers.

Then there is the chief arbiter's medical bill (he needs some imported medicines for some ailment) which is Rs.8,800 one time.

Mind you, these amounts do not include the hospitality of the players and the horde of officials who bury their differences, forget their ugly fights to grab posts and make an appearance only at events of this magnitude with no contribution at all otherwise.

One other disturbing news was the `selective' leak from some top officials of the All India Chess Federation that Anand was being paid Rs.5.65 lakhs as appearance money. The SAAP and AICF officials have to clarify on this quickly as it is likely to leave Anand bitter and also contribute to somebody taking home the money in their kitty without accounting for it.

It is for the highest authority in the State to make public the total expenditure for the event so as to erase all suspicion. Such transparency is necessary to woo new sponsors instead of making them apprehensive about the project they are involved in.

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