Lok Sabha Question No. 1821 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-29
Subject: Target Olyhmpic Podium Scheme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1821 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2021

Target Olyhmpic Podium Scheme

1821. SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  the  funding  provided  to  potential  Olympic  medal winners  under  the  Target  Olympic  Podium  Scheme  (TOPS),  sportswise;
- (b) whether the Government  has  taken any steps to facilitate specialised training camps for the athletes during lockdown considering India has been under frequent lockdowns since last year due to COVID-19 which has adversely impacted the training schedules of athletes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  the  steps  to  look  after  the mental health  of  athletes  during  the  lockdown  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Under  the  Target  Olympic  Podium  Scheme  (TOPS),  customized training  and  allied  facilities  are  being  made  available  to  potential Olympic  medal  winners.  162  athletes  and  01  Hockey  Men's  &  01 Hockey Women's teams are included in the TOPS Core Group and 254 athletes are included in the TOPS Development Group.

In  addition  to  above, 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.

The total expenditure incurred under the TOP Scheme during the last three years and current year is given below:

## Expenditure under TOPS Scheme

| Financial Year                          | Total Expenditure   |
|-----------------------------------------|---------------------|
| 2018-19                                 | Rs. 14,31,60, 496   |
| 2019-20                                 | Rs. 12,41,38,012    |
| 2020-21                                 | Rs. 15,65,86,361    |
| Current year 2021-22 (As on 20.07.2021) | Rs. 11,87,34,351    |

The discipline-wise  details  of  the  above  expenditure  are  provided  at Annexure.

- (b): Due  to  outbreak  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  all  the  conventional training  programmes being conducted in all Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres across the country, under various SAI Sports Promotional Schemes  were  temporarily  suspended  and  the  foreign  training  of Indian athletes were  also curtailed. However,  the training  was resumed in accordance with the guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the view  of the COVID-19  pandemic,  inter-alia,  the  following measures were taken to ensure a smooth training for the sportspersons  including  those  who  qualified  for  Tokyo  Olympics,  so that their performance is not affected:

- i. The Ministry issued the following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Guidelines for sports related activities in the COVID-19 environment:
- a. SOP for resumption of swimming training of sportspersons in COVID-19 environment.
- b. SOP  for  Organizing  Sports  Competitions  in  the  Country  in  a COVID-19 environment.
4. c.
5. SOP for opening up of Stadia for Sports events.
- d. SOP for operation of Swimming Pools in a Covid-19 Environment.
- ii. In order to implement Non-Conventional Training Methods, Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  were  laid  down  by  Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous body under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to resume sports activities in  the  training  centres  under  the  name  of  'Khelo  India-Firr  Se'. The SOP covers all stakeholders at the training centres including athletes, technical and non-technical support staff, administrative  staff,  hostel  and  facility  management  staff  and visitors to the centre.
- iii. A  COVID  Task  Force  Committee  was  set-up  to  ensure  the guidelines  are  strictly  implemented  at  the  training  centre.  The committee is responsible for the constant monitoring and management of the health protocols of the government.
- iv. The  SOP  categorizes  the  sporting  disciplines  into  non-contact sports,  minimal/medium-contact  sports,  full  contact  sports  and
10. water sports.
- v. The athletes  were  provided  with  necessary  sporting  equipment such  as  (Barbell Rods,  weights,  Exercise  Bicycle  etc.), air pellets, target system with the help from SAI Regional Centres, State  Governments  and  NGOs  at  their  homes  during  the  first phases  of  nationwide  lockdown  so  that  they  can  train  within their homes.
- vi. Regular Online Trainings /  Classes were conducted for athletes by the coaches to keep them motivated and fit during lock down period.  Athletes  were  provided  with  online  training  module  for daily practice.
- vii. Regular interaction with the athletes was done in order to boost their  morale  and  keep  them  motivated  in  these  tough  times. Seminars and workshops by experts in sports psychology, sports science/medicating, nutrition in COVID 19, strength and conditioning,  high  performance  sports  environment,  anti-doping have  been  organized  via,  video  conferencing,  social  media  like Facebook  Live,  Instagram  Live  etc.,  to  educate  athletes  about
14. how to cope with stress and depression during tough times and focusing on their objectives so that the training is not hampered.
- viii. Athletes & Coach Education Programme and Coach Development Programme  (ACEP/CDP)  were  conducted  and  lectures  were delivered by the Foreign Coaches and Sports Experts in different sports discipline. Total 10483 coaches in various sports discipline  session  and  3818  coaches'  sports  science  session participated.
- ix. The athletes  were  provided  with  necessary  sporting  equipment to enable them to keep fit. Further, those Olympic bound athletes who  could  not  go  back  to  their  places  due  to  lock  down  were given equipment in their rooms for training in SAI Centres.
- x. National  Coaching  Camps  have  been  resumed  for  the  Olympic bound  athletes.  The  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  has been formulated for conduct of safe training.
- xi. One  week  'Soft  Skill  Development  &  Sensitization'  programme and COVID-19 awareness programme were conducted for athletes.
- xii. During the second wave of Covid-19, athletes were sent abroad for training or trained in the training camps  with social distancing,  so  that  they  may  remain  unaffected  by  the  ongoing pandemic in the country.
- xiii. Vaccination Drive for Olympic bound athletes, National Campers and  their  Coaches,  Support  Staff  was  initiated  in  the  month  of April  2021  at  Sports  Authority  of  India  centres  with  the  help  of local  authorities.  In  addition,  the  Govt.  has  ensured  that  few athletes who are training abroad also receive their vaccinations timely.
- xiv. The Government has facilitated relaxation in the travel restrictions  for  the  Indian  athletes  to  the  other  countries  for participating  in  Olympic  Qualifiers  and  Competitions  before  the start of the Tokyo Olympics.
- xv. A quick response injury and management rehabilitation cell was established  under  the  Mission  Olympic  Cell  (MOC)  comprising expert panel of physicians, physiotherapists, and musculoskeletal experts to monitor the injury prevention protocols of Olympic bound athletes.
- xvi. Considering  the  fact  that  Tokyo  2020  Olympic  Games  is  being held under unique circumstances, orientation/sensitization programs for athletes and their support staff in collaboration with the Indian Olympics Association has been conducted as under:
24.  Playing Clean: Overview of all the functional information and protocols related to antidoping that are applicable for
25. participation at the Olympics.
26.  Life  at  Tokyo:  Orientation  of  rules,  regulations  and  protocols that the athletes (and the support staff) would have to adhere to  before  travel,  on  arrival  and  while  staying  at  the  Olympic Games village.
27.  From India, with pride: Obligations and expectations of being an ideal ambassador of India with an emphasis on understanding  Japanese  culture  and  etiquettes,  addressing lingual barriers and realizing the social responsibilities as an athlete.
28. (c): Services of support staff/personnel like Physical Trainer, Sports Psychologist, Mental Trainer and Physiotherapist etc. is provided to all the sportspersons under Target Olympic Podium  Scheme.  Sport Psychology  Cell  has  been  established  to  map  the  requirements  of athletes. Headed by Sr. SAI Sports Psychologist, the Cell is responsible  for  monitoring  the  psychological  and  mental  training requirements  of  the  athletes  and  providing  them  with  necessary assistance where required.

Regular interaction with the athletes was done in order to boost their morale  and  keep  them  motivated  in  the  tough  times  of  pandemic. Seminars  and  workshops  by  experts  in  sports  psychology,  sports science/medicine,  nutrition  in  Covid,  strength  &  conditioning,  high performance sports environment, anti-doping have been organized for TOPS  athletes  via,  video  conferencing,  social  media  like  Facebook Live,  Insta  Live  etc.,  to  educate  athletes  about  how  to  cope  with stress during tough times and focusing on their objectives so that the training is not hampered.

****

Annexure Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  UnStarred  Question No.1821 for answer on 29.07.2021 regarding Target Olympic Podium Scheme by Shri

Achyutananda Samanta, Hon'ble Members of Parliament.

(Amount in Rupees)

|       |                    | 2018-19             | 2019-20             | 2020-21             | 2021-22             |
|-------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| 1     | Discipline Archery | Expenditure 9832657 | Expenditure 6610677 | Expenditure 7580000 | Expenditure 5625000 |
| 2     | Athletics          | 14224266            | 12511645            | 17024814            |                     |
| 3     |                    |                     |                     |                     | 10050262            |
|       | Badminton Boxing   | 3907000             | 13254740            | 21394736            | 9572607             |
| 4     |                    | 6917785             | 3501780             | 10821858            | 5582663             |
| 5     | Cycling            | 4676707             | 1687075             | 1000000             | 325000              |
| 6     | Golf               | 0                   | 0                   | 0                   | 0                   |
| 7     | Judo               | 2847904             | 21245               | 1375000             | 1150000             |
| 8     | Para Sports        | 12888410            | 30522686            | 25650744            | 12937890            |
| 9     | Gymnastics         | 7139359             | 10529               | 0                   | 0                   |
| 10    | Rowing             | 0                   | 0                   | 625000              | 743212              |
| 11    | Shooting           | 33709032            | 19888194            | 30536169            | 15969947            |
| 12    | Table Tennis       | 5537351             | 6327253             | 5309756             | 3467270             |
| 13    | Tennis             | 10969827            | 7011893             | 7800511             | 7078156             |
| 14    | Weightlifting      | 4278454             | 3697849             | 5594965             | 9954813             |
| 15    | Wrestling          | 11991617            | 18394356            | 13979254            | 8199090             |
| 16    | Swimming           | 1210428             | 690740              | 6956888             | 2183213             |
| 17    | Squash             | 3274956             | 0                   | 0                   | 0                   |
| 18    | Hockey             | 1800000             | 0                   | 936666              | 15301666            |
| 19    | Equestrian         | 0                   | 0                   | 0                   | 150000              |
| 20    | Sailing            | 0                   | 0                   | 0                   | 8473972             |
| 21    | Fencing            | 1167223             | 0                   | 0                   | 2419590             |
| 22    | Luge Sports        | 0                   | 0                   | 0                   | 0                   |
| 23    | Wushu              | 6787520             | 7350                | 0                   | 0                   |
| Total | Total              | 143160496           | 124138012           | 156586361           | 118734351           |

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