Lok Sabha Question No. 665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-22
Subject: Olympic Games
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Ramesh Bidhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.665 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2021

## Olympic Games

665. SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

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

- (a) the steps taken by Government regarding preparation for Olympic Games, 2021; and
- (b) the steps taken for financial/medical/human and technical support to athletes participating in the Olympic Games, 2021?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

- (a):   Preparation of Indian sportspersons and teams for international sports  events  including  Olympics-2021  is  an  ongoing  process.  The Central  Government  is  supporting  sportspersons  through  National Sports  Federations  (NSFs)  for  their  training,  foreign  exposures  and competitions to enable them to obtain maximum quota for participation  in  Olympics  and  enhance  their  chances  of  winning medals. Under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), customized training  and  allied  facilities  are  also  being  made  available  to  medal prospects and high achievers. At present, 147 individual athletes & 2 hockey  teams  (M&W)  as  core  group  have  been  selected  under  the TOPS.

High  priority  category  of  sports  discipline  has  been  identified  to  put focus  on and  incentivize  those  sports disciplines played  in the Olympics in which India has won medals in the last conducted Asian

Games as well as Commonwealth Games or in which India has good chance of winning medals in the upcoming Olympics.

A High-Level Committee has been constituted to oversee the preparation of Indian contingent for the Olympic Games, Tokyo 202021.

Collective  efforts  of  the  Government, National Sport  Federations and other  stakeholders  have  seen  a  total  of  127  athletes  qualify  for  the Tokyo Olympics.

(b) Financial/Medical/Human  and  Technical  Assistance  to  Tokyo bound athletes have been provided. The Government provides assistance  to  elite  sportspersons  preparing  for  major  international events including Olympic Games by providing funding support through Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) Scheme

Under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), customized training and allied facilities are also being made available to medal prospects and  high  achievers.  Out  of  pocket  allowance  (OPA)  is  paid  to  TOPS athletes selected in Core Group at the rate of Rs.50,000 per month and to  Development  Group  at  the  rate  of  Rs.25,000  per  month  and customized training support at National Centre of Excellence (NCOE). Salary,  travel  expenses  of  Coaches/Support  Staff  of  TOPS  athlete  is also supported through TOPS.

National  Campers  training  in  National  camps  held  all  over  India  in different SAI and non-SAI Centres, Athletes selected under Khelo India Scheme,  NCOE  athletes  at  SAI  NCOEs  and  Non-SAI  TOPS  NCOEs, Special Training Centres (STC) athletes all over India in different SAI Centres are provided medical assistance coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs and personal accidental policy coverage of Rs. 25 lakhs.

For  Foreign  Training  and  Exposures,  insurance  (Visa  and  Travel)  is done via authorized travel agency along with the travel arrangements for the athletes and the same is reimbursed as per the actual by SAI.

Additionally,  individual  proposals  received  from  the  athletes  for  any injury  or  sports  science  staff  such  as  physiotherapist,  nutritionist, fitness trainer, psychologists etc. are also provided from time to time as per the requirement. Central  Athlete  Injury  Management  System  (CAIMS)  has  been  set-up for streamlining the sports medicine and rehabilitation support offered to  the  athletes  targeting  Olympic  Games  2024  and  beyond.  The mandate for such a system includes prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and  rehabilitation  afforded  to  the  athletes  in  a  timely  manner  and maintenance of records for mapping the injury history of an athlete. Equipment support is being provided to the athletes in their respective sport disciplines under Assistance to NSF for National Camps as per the proposals received. Also, specific equipment requested by athlete for training & competition is being provided as recommended by NSFs.

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