Lok Sabha Question No. 2146 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-15
Subject: Winter Olympic Games
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Prathap Simha, Umesh G. Jadhav, L.S. Tejasvi Surya, Sanganna Amarappa Karadi, B. Y. Raghavendra, S. Muniswamy

- (a)

## Government of India (Department of Sports)

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2146

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2022

## Winter Olympic Games

## 2146. SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA:

SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that only one person qualified for the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing 2022 from India;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof  and  the  reasons  for  such  poor qualification of Indian sportspersons in Winter Olympics;
- (c)  the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  setup  Winter
- Sports Federation in the country; and
- (d) the measures being taken by the Government to improve Winter Sports?

## ANSWER

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

- Yes, Sir.
- (b) Only one athlete from India,  Shri  Arif  Mohammad  Khan qualified  for  participation  in  the  Winter  Olympic  Games  in  Beijing 2022 in Alpine Skiing. The participation of this athlete was on the basis of 'Quota participation' of International Ski Federation.

Participation  of  individuals/teams  in  the  Winter  Olympic  Games depends  on  achieving  the  qualifying  standards  by  the  individual athletes  /  teams  belonging  to  the  respective  national  federations. Further,  Sports  which  are  part  of  Winter  Olympic  are  confined  to very  few  Indian  States  such  as  Himachal  Pradesh,  Jammu  & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and also the winter sports being seasonal, very few athletes take up the winter sports.

- (c) Promotion  and  development  of  specific  sports  disciplines  is mainly the responsibility of the concerned National Sports Federations  (NSFs).  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the recognised  NSFs  by  providing  financial  assistance  to  them  under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs for holding national championships, conduct of international events in India, preparation and  participation  of  Indian  sportspersons  /  teams  in  international sporting events, equipment support, etc. The Government recognition  is  granted  to  the  national  level  sports  bodies,  which makes  them  eligible  for  financial  and  other  support from  the Government.  As  and  when  any  feasible  proposal  is  received  from national level federations, such proposals are considered as per the laid down procedure under the National Sports Development Code of India,  2011.  At  present,  no  NSF  has  been  recognized  for  Winter Sports.
- (d) With  the  objective  of  promotion  and  development  of  winter sports, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has organized Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg (Jammu & Kashmir). The first Khelo India  Winter  Games  were  held  from  7-11  March  2020,  which  saw participation of 955 athletes in the disciplines of Snow Skiing, Snow Rugby, Snow Ice Stock, Snow Baseball, Snow Mountaineering, Snow Shoe, Ice Hockey. The second Khelo India Winter Games were held in  the  disciplines of Snow Ski, Ice Hockey, Ice Stock, Snow Shoe, Snow Ski Mountaineering, Ice Skating were held from 26th February to  2nd  March,  2021  at  Gulmarg,  Jammu  &  Kashmir  with  787 participants.

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