New Delhi: The government spent Rs. 54.26 crore under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Rs. 711.46 crore under National Sports Federations from 2018-19 to till date, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Training and competitive exposure to sportspersons preparing for international sports events including Olympics is taken care of under the funds allocated for the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations. Customised training of medal prospects is taken care of under Target OlympicPodium Scheme (TOPS) under the overall ambit of National SportsDevelopment Fund.
Key Highlights:
- Several athletes sent abroad for training during second wave of COVID-19 in the country.
- Financial assistance under Khelo India Scheme to States and Union Territories to develop critical sports infrastructure and other infrastructure
- Financial assistance for development of Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (SLKISCE) identified by States/UTs. 24 such centres are already functional
Scheme of Assistance to Preparation for International events including Olympics is a continuous process, the Minister stated and informed that a High-Level Committee was constituted to oversee the preparation of Indian contingent for the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020. During the second wave of Covid-19, several athletes were sent abroad for training so that they may remain unaffected by the ongoing pandemic in the country. Other Tokyo probables were trained in the training camps with social distancing.
Noting that ‘Sports’ is a State subject, the Minister stated that it is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to develop sports including development and creation of sports infrastructure of international standards. However, he said, Central Government also provides financial assistance under its scheme of ‘Khelo India’ to States and Union Territories to develop critical sports infrastructure and other infrastructure, where there are gaps, including for sports science and sports equipment on the basis of viable proposals from them.
Training of sports persons preparing to participate in major international tournaments such as Olympics is mainly held at Centres of Sports Authority of India, which have adequate facilities. Further, in order to improve the facilities owned by the State Governments, each State is permitted to identify one existing sports facilities to be declared as Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (SLKISCE) wherein financial support is provided for manpower and upgradation of sports infrastructure facilities by conducting gap analysis. Such 24 SLKISCEs have already started across the country.
– global bihari bureau
