Should politics and sport mix?

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In recent times several events have placed a number of sports under a political microscope, bringing into focus the fact of whether sport should exist independent of entities that lie outside the playing field. The Sunday Times looked to the public to learn if this was indeed the case.
Pix by Amila Gamage

I do no think politics should mix with sport unless if a politician has the clout to help a country gain ICC status. But otherwise I don’t think this should be the case, and it most certainly isn’t in almost every other country. - S.W Chang (Former rugby player, coach and referee)	It shouldn’t mix with sport. Sport is different from politics so why are politicians coming in sport? So definitely sportsmen and authorities should have the freedom to make their own decisions. Politicians just need to support these decisions and not interfere with the operation of things. - Dilip Kumar (Private sector employee)
It is better to keep politics away from sports. Even if you take cricket in the recent times, unnecessary problems are created due to the involvement of politics. - Gothami Priyadarshani (Housewife)	Development projects in sport should not be rooted in politics. The worst-affected sport is cricket because politicians run the show. Everyone should take a personal stand against politics in sport. - Kamal Gunasekara (Three wheel driver)
I don’t think it should exist in sport. In fact I think it is shame because we have reached such a progressive point in certain aspects of sport. I believe that politicians are unaware, unprofessional and do not have the proper knowledge to advise sports authorities. - Kevin Pasquinho (Lankan living abroad)	Politics should by no means cross paths with sport. When selecting Presidents for various boards, someone who is not even slightly linked to politics should be selected. - Nelum Apsara (Housewife)
Politics should not be at all be connected with sport. It won’t be easy to rid sports of politics though because it has spread far and wide in sport, especially in this country. - T. P Samarasinghe (Retired army officer)	Politics should in no way be a part of any sport, even if politicians say they are trying to develop the sport. I think some responsibility should also lie in the hands of the players. They should just say no to politics. - Sameera Weerasinghe (Marketing officer)
I think they should bring in funding for sports but no I don’t think you should directly involve politics in any sport. Politics is all about money, but look at the grounds the children play on here. If they really want to help they should put their money into the grounds and children. - Sinead Ward (Medic for foreign rugby team)	If politics is mixed with sports then favourites will be selected into a team, and skill will not be taken into account. But it is pointless trying to stop it infiltrating sports because I think this is already happening, especially in cricket. - Tissa Poornage (Retired government worker)