The article India's Olympic shame (August 21) seeks to highlight the mismanagement of funds for athletes. The fact is that the majority of us sit in front of the television and simply expect our athletes to bring gold medals. We do not understand what these athletes endure on a daily basis. We must recognise that these athletes have trained night and day and sacrificed their lives to qualify for the Olympics.
It takes considerable resources to keep athletes in peak form. It’s a full-time job that requires proper management and funding. Expenses for coaches, equipment, training facilities, nutrition and everyday out-of-pocket expenses must be taken care of. Take note of how much the UK spends. Take for example Jamaica, a small island in the Caribbean with 3 million people, that has produced high-quality athletes such as Usain Bolt.
Forty years ago, the government made a commitment to support and develop world-class athletes. The message for India is simply this: corruption only robs people of a better life, while enriching a few. It’s not a sustainable model and change must begin from the top.
Randall Mohammed, Dubai
Having a caste system that pushes people “into their place” could be the reason for India’s underachievement in the Games. The US leads in medals because it created a culture where anyone can achieve anything regardless of background.
Troy Patrick, US
Syrian war has to stop now
The death of Ali Daqneesh is terribly sad (Brother of Syrian boy pictured in Aleppo dies of his wounds, August 22). It is difficult to imagine the grief of parents who witness their children die before their eyes. Losing a child is the most devastating experience for any parent. It is a matter of great shame that we can only share photographs of these killings and destruction and not help end this bloodshed. I hope that the war in Syria ends soon.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Abuse of ER staff must stop
It's sad that doctors and nurses in emergency rooms are frequently abused by patients and their families (Abuse of ER staff in UAE 'all too common', August 21). Unfortunately, too many people here use the ER as a doctor's office. It will continue to happen unless this practice is stopped.
In the US, insurance will not pay if the ER staff designates the visit as non-emergency.
Beverly Newell, US
Once I went in the ER with someone who was in serious need of medical attention. The patient showed clear signs of distress and all I had to do was sit there and wait.
Next door to us was a woman and her daughter, who had a cold, did not look distressed and was happily playing around. She was sent in first.
This happened in a popular private hospital.
I had to keep going to the receptionist time and again to remind her but to no avail.
I wonder what’s more important – cold or someone having hypertensive crises?
I have decided never to go back to that hospital for emergencies again.
Noor Vazeer, Dubai
A hospital is not a hotel or a restaurant. Patients think they are customers. Not at all. They are just patients. Only the doctor can decide which case is urgent.
Gérald Bau, Dubai
Poetry can resolve conflicts
Religions are based on scripture, which is mostly poetry. So it only makes sense that religious conflict must be resolved through poetry, and not through politics, negotiation, or war. I propose that all religious conflicts be redefined poetically, so that they can be resolved without bloodshed, winners, or losers. So let’s sharpen our words, not our swords; send missives, not missiles; and apply our minds to metaphor, simile, rhyme, metre, and prosody, but not pomposity, animosity, ferocity, atrocity or monstrosity.
Hugh Mann, US
