Lok Sabha Question No. 936 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: National Centres of Excellence
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 936 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2022

National Centres of Excellence

936. SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

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

- (a) the total number of National Centres of Excellence in the country as on December 01, 2022;
- (b) the steps taken to increase such centres during the period 20142022;
- (c) whether  such  centres  form  part  of  the  training  facilities  for  the athletes  selected  to  represent  India  at  international  events  including Olympics;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any audit/review of such centres periodically to ensure their compliance with international best practices; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) & (b): As on December 01, 2022, there are 23 National Centres of

Excellence (NCOEs) across the Country to impart specialized training to promising athletes in 13 priority disciplines and 10 additional disciplines.

The  NCOE  is  one  of  the  sports  promotional  schemes  of  the  Sports Authority of India (SAI). Other sports promotional schemes of SAI are SAI Training Centre (STC), Extension Centre of STC and National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC). Under these schemes, the selected athletes are provided  financial  support  in  the  form  of  expert  coaches,  sports equipment,  boarding  and  lodging,  sports  kit,  competition  exposure, educational  expenses,  medical/  insurance  and  stipend  as  per  the approved scheme norms. For promotion and  development of sports in the  country,  SAI  spends  funds  through  its  Regional  Centres  (RCs)  for which Block Grants are released.

Recently,  SAI  has  undertaken  an  exercise  of  restructuring  of  its existing sports promotional schemes, and has decided to focus on the existing centres in identified sports disciplines with a view to prepare athletes  for  the  major  international  events,  such  as  Olympic  Games, Asian  Games,  Commonwealth  Games,  etc.  However,  creation  and development of sports infrastructure is a continuous process. Therefore,  SAI  decides  creation  of  facilities  /  Centres  depending  on availability of funds and local demand.

- (c) & (d) Yes  Sir.  In  order  to  achieve  excellence  in  Olympics/other international  sports  events,  SAI  has  established  NCOEs  across  the country to impart specialized training to promising athletes by providing state-of-the  art  infrastructure  and  playing  facilities,  sports  science backup,  individualized  diet,  prescribed  by  trained  nutritionists  and overall supervision under the best coaches, qualified support staff and High Performance Directors (HPD).

NCOEs  conduct  regular  coaching  camps  for  the  athletes  selected  to represent India at international events, including Olympics, and also for the  development  group  of  talented  athletes.  SAI  Training  Centres (STCs) act as feeder centres to NCOEs.

(e) & (f) Performance  of  the  centres  is  reviewed  periodically  by  a team  of  experts  comprising  of  Regional  Directors,  High  Performance Coaches,  etc.  to  ensure  that  the  best  international  practices  are available to athletes.

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