Playing names

It has long been apparent that a hint of racism has underwritten the attitude of some nations of the Commonwealth to the Games in Delhi. That it has broken out in its ugliest form on a New Zealand television show is,therefore,not so much of a surprise. TV anchor Paul Henry,host of TVNZs Breakfast Show,let what was subliminal spill out onto the surface when he deliberately mispronounced Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshits name to make it sound like an expletive. He left little doubt about his racist motive when he went on to add that the expletive was particularly well-suited to describe her because she was Indian. Henry has now been suspended by his channel for two weeks,but for singling out New Zealand governor-general,Sir Anand Satyanand,for not being a New Zealander. In any event,New Zealands high commissioner to this country did the courtesy of apologising for that bigoted remark.

However,condemnable as the slur is,should it have snowballed into a diplomatic incident? The external affairs ministry reacted by summoning the high commissioner,a move usually reserved for the most aggravating circumstances. Admittedly,Indian officials have had to field some irrational and provocative statements from leaders and sports officials of the Commonwealth countries,and they have generally done so with dignity. Indeed,they have tended to err on the side of dignified clarification,rather than tough talking. In the New Zealand television incident,however,the ministry may have over-reacted. Surely the case is not that governments should be responsible for what television anchors say. If so,this countrys television anchors should give the MEA pause.

Beneath the surface,though,a real churning may be on. Now that the Commonwealth Games have begun and the subject has changed to the sports themselves,it is evident that the event has changed from its long-ago avatar as a competition for the subjects. Hosting of the Games has traditionally been the tightly held preserve of a select few Canada,Australia and the components of the United Kingdom. Delhi is the second Asian host,after Kuala Lumpur in 1998. The Caribbean has been host only once Jamaica in 1966. After all the jittery last-minute-ism this year,the sports infrastructure in use announces a clear upgrade. Indian athletes in the fray,with many on a new ascendant,are the best refutation of charges that sport is an elitist indulgence. They have taken ownership of the competition,and in myriad ways,modernised the CWG.