Ganga Holds out rich Promise

This interview was done on the banks of Ganga at Shivpuri in Uttarkand when I had gone to cover the Four Square white water challenge in 1994 for the Deccan Herald. Below is the extract from the interview I had with Albert Wood who was the then President of the International Canoeing Union and also the European Kayaking Union.

Albert J Wood, President of the International Canoeing Union as well as the European Kayaking Union, is a soft-spoken gent from the British Isles, the main force behind water sports.
His credentials cannot be questioned, for he has toiled with great success during the Olympics and the recent Asiad in Hiroshima. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mr Wood dwelled at length about the sport’s future, the new disciplines to be added for glamour’s sake.

Do you think the Ganga is good enough for an international meet?
Well, the river is superb with a surrounding just out of the world. The flow of water is not at all dangerous. I feel that the Ganga could be the main center in Asia.

Why was this sport shelved at the Olympics?
Lack mof funds, no support from the Olympic Committee, and various other factors which I am disinclined to elaborate on.

Was it that the sport itself was dangerous and hence the discipline was dropped after the Munich Olympics in 1972?
The sport is not dangerous at all. People who know swimming can always take to the sport like a duck to water. Actually after the Munich Olympics the then president of the Canoeing Union said the Union had run out of funds which to my knowledge are not correct.
Then the Olympic Committee said the sport is dangerous and that they did not have the funds to host the sport at the next Olympics. These two are the main factors which led to the ouster of the sport.

How was it revived and who are the main people to have played a part in it?
During the 1972 Olympics, two divisions of this sport- rafting and Kayaking – were among the disciplines. As the boats were very heavy, participants were always prone to immense danger if a raft or kayak keeled over. As science developed, so did the sport. Now we have rafts which are made of solid rubber. Even if they capsize, they will not sink. They will float with the current. And that is an undeniable advantage for the aspect of danger is almost totally ruled out.
Canoe and kayak are made if plastic and the same apply to the rafts. The sprot’s inclusion in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona was under active consideration following its review by the Olympic Committee. The Union and the public who love this sport have worked hard to get this sport back to the mainstream.

How many countries are involved in this sport, and how many turned up for the last world championship?
As many as 83 countries are involved in this sport. All of them are affiliated to the union. At the World championship in Sheffield this year, 46 nations took part and we are hoping for better attendance at the next meet scheduled to be held at Adelaide.
Some of the major countries involved in the sport are the United State, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and a lot of other countries in Europe.

Your impression about the Indians?
I am happy to find Indians don’t lack in physical fitness or stamina. But I am particularly impressed by the Kerala boys.
All the need is a lot of international exposure. Since India is endowed with superb infrastructure, the association can always get foreign coaches to get to know the latest. That should help in tapping the vast potential India has.