Lok Sabha Question No. 1696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Making India a Sports Superpower
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1696 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2016

Making India a Sports Superpower

1696.   SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government had sought suggestions from  various  quarters/public  on  the  topic  'Making  India  a  Sports Superpower' during last few years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  suggestions  received  and  the  status  of  implementation  of those suggestions?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) & (b): The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports sought views/suggestions from citizens in December 2014 on MyGov website on 'Making India a sports superpower'.
- (c)
- Following major suggestions have been received:
-  Encourage Corporates to invest in the sporting sector and create global-level facilities and infrastructure
- Increase the number of zonal and state level competitions to
-  recognize talent from every part of the country
-  Bring  in  world-class  coaches  and  training  equipment  to improve  the  skills  of  interested  athletes  and  lay  down  a strong foundation for the future generation
-  Allow sports personalities and private entities to adopt/sponsor  a  district  and  use  their  funds  and  skills  to identify talented individuals
-  Establish  Sports  Universities  across  India  that  encourage people from all walks of life, including the tribals, to take part in sports activities
-  Set up sports training centers abroad so that athletes can train  in  the  optimal  environment  required  for  a  particular sport
-  Appeal to every Sports celebrity to adopt at least one tehsil for providing and monitoring the facilities for sports.
-  Encourage regional sports like archery in Andamans and NE India; fencing, high jumping in Punjab, boat racing in Kerala. Every state has a unique sports community, recognize them
-  Encourage  schools  to  take  up  one  or  two  games  as  their priority games. This will lead to concentration of resources and give better results
-  Encourage Corporates to invest in the sporting sector and create global-level facilities and infrastructure
-  Let corporates sponsor one sport using their Marketing/advertising budget.
-  Open Sports Universities in five Zones - East, West, North, South and Central, headed by sports personnel and assisted by the armed forces or vice-versa
-  Have  sport  schools  abroad  under  the  Ministry  of  Foreign Affairs with world-class infrastructure, lodging and boarding, global  coaching  talent.  Send  selected  sportsmen  there  to enable their bodies to adapt to the food and climate.
-  Have a national physical education academy and a cadre of Physical Education Instructors. Establish a National Sports University with a Sports Academy in each state
-  Issue a card giving 5% discount in utilities bill of electricity, water, house tax, parking, rail/air tickets etc. to distinguished sportsmen.

While  schemes/programmes  having  features  of  the  above suggestions are already being implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs  &  Sports  and  State  Governments,  other  suggestions  have been taken note of.

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