Lok Sabha Question No. 344 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-10
Subject: Promotion and Development of Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: MANOJ RAJORIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 344 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2017

Promotion and Development of Sports

†*344. DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the performance of our country is  not  upto  the  mark  in  athletics/sports  events  in  comparison  to  other countries; (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  remedial  steps  being  taken  to address the said situation; and (c) the details of various schemes being implemented for promotion and

- development of sports in the country ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 344 FOR REPLY ON 10.08.2017 ASKED BY DR.  MANOJ  RAJORIA  REGARDING  PROMOTION  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF

SPORTS

- (a) It is true that the performance of our country in the field of sports has been below potential.
- (b) Some of the constraints that have led to this situation include, among other: -
- -poor governance in sports due to lack of professionalism
- -absence of strong domestic competition structure
- -lack of strong talent identification and long term athlete development system
- -non-integration  of  sports  with  education  at  school,  college  and university level
- -inadequate  support  in  terms  of  high  performance  coaches  and other support staff, sports sciences and medicine etc.

There have been continuous efforts to address these shortcomings.  The Government has notified the National Sports Development Code 2011 to ensure good-governance in sports.  A number of National Sports Academies have  been  established  in  different  sports  disciplines  such  as  athletics, swimming, cycling, rowing, boxing, badminton, football, hockey, etc. under which  state-of-the-art facilities are provided  to athletes. A strong competition structure has been created under the 'Khelo India' programme, which  includes National School Games,  National  University  Games, National Women Championship, National Rural / Tribal Games, etc.

The Government has decided to set up a National Sports University to build capacity  in  sports  coaching,  sports  sciences,  sports  technology,  sports management, etc. Under the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) liberal assistance is given to potential medallists for customized training. A stateof-the-art sports infrastructure is provided at Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centres for holding National Camps. High Performance Coaches including  foreign  coaches  are  engaged  in  high  priority  disciplines  and funding  towards  diet,  food  supplements,  equipment,  sports  competition exposure to national athletes has been increased significantly.

(c) In  addition,  SAI  is  implementing  the  following  sports  promotional schemes across the country to identify and nurture talented sports persons including women in the age group of 8-25 years and nurture them to excel at National and International competitions:

-  National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)
-  Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC)
-  SAI Training Centre (STC)
-  Special Area Games (SAG)
-  Extension Centre of STC / SAG
-  Centre of Excellence (CoE)
-  National Sports Academy (NSA)