Our Olympians face their first big hurdle: no pocket money so far

There are currently around a dozen athletes — including Anju Bobby George and shooter R S Rathore — who’ve already checked into the Games Village. They have effectively been left in the lurch and will have to continue spending from their own pockets for the next week or so, when the money should reach.

The wife of one of the participants, when contacted at the family residence, said her husband was paying out of his own pocket for everything that wasn’t on the house.

The problem lies, typically, in the red tape that has tied up Indian sport for years on end. Sports Ministry sources say the proposal was sent to the Finance Ministry for clearance but was returned, seeking justification. When the reasons were mentioned, the Finance Ministry returned it again, saying they were not substantive.

The onus is now on the Sports Minister, who with his discretionary powers can overrule the Finance Ministry’s objection and order the remittance. Even if he does that in the next couple of days, the money needs to be transferred to the Indian Embassy in Athens, which will take a couple of days more, with a weekend in between.

Of course, the IOA could have been proactive, transferring money from its account till the ministry’s money came in. But that’s never been one of the IOA’s strengths.

Or it could have sent money with any of the officials who have made a beeline for Athens. But deputy chef-de-mission Harish Sharma, the first to arrive in Athens, did not carry any money, nor did the three officials who flew off a couple of days later.

And neither is IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh, who was to leave New Delhi later tonight. When contacted before he boarded the flight, Singh was unable to explain the delay and his organisation’s oversight.

‘‘We will transfer some money immediately so that athletes are taken care of,’’ he said.

Dutt’s office admitted there was some delay but promised to look into it immediately. ‘‘We’ll straightaway inform the joint secretary and explore avenues to transfer the money soon,’’ said an official.