Lok Sabha Question No. 903 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-17
Subject: Inclusion of Kabaddi in Olympics
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor, D. M. Kathir Anand

## Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 903 TO BE ANSWERD ON 17.09.2020

Inclusion of Kabaddi in Olympics

## 903. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

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

- (a) whether the Government has urged all Asian countries including Korea and Malaysia to ensure the inclusion of the popular contact sport,  Kabaddi,  which  has  already  been  added  in  Asian  games,  in Olympics;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  measures  being  taken  to  improve  the  standard  of  the  said game in the country and the details thereof;
- (d) whether any sport must be played in at least 75 countries across the world for inclusion by the International Olympic Committee and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  any  effective  plan  to  propagate Kabbadi  which  is  currently  played  in  few  countries  only,  across
- several geographical locations worldwide; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI KIREN RIJIJU]

- (a) No Sir.
- (b) In view of (a) above, the question does not arise.
- For  making  Kabaddi  popular,  the  Government  has  taken
- (c) following initiatives / measures:
- (i)   The sports facilities of Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education,
- Gwalior  and  Guwahati  have  been  made  available  free  of cost  for  sports  including  Kabaddi  for  organising  training programmes and sporting events.
- (ii)  Inclusion  of  Kabaddi  in  Khelo  India  Youth  Games  and Khelo India University Games.
- (iii)  126 athletes of Kabaddi have been selected under Talent Search  and  Development  vertical  of  Khelo  India  Scheme for Long Term Athlete Development Programme.
- (iv)  Coaching  of  sportspersons  of  Kabaddi  discipline  in  SAI facilities.

Further, for promotion  and  development  of  Kabaddi, the Ministry  is  supplementing  the  efforts  of  the  Amateur  Kabaddi Federation of India by providing support for training and competitive exposure within country and abroad. (d) to (f) Inclusion of any sport discipline in the Olympic Games is decided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Among other things, IOC has prescribed that a sport discipline must be governed by an International Federation which undertakes to follow the rules of the Olympic Charter and it must also be practised widely across the  world  and  meet  various  criteria.  It  is  for  the  International Kabaddi Federation  to  take  required  steps  to  promote  Kabaddi  at international  level.  However,  the  efforts  of  the  Amateur  Kabaddi Federation  of  India  towards  promotion  and  increase  of  spread  of Kabaddi world-wide are supported by the Government by providing competitive  exposure  to  Indian  Kabaddi  player  abroad  and  for conduct of international Kabaddi events in India.

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