War of words going on betwwen IOA and Sports Ministry of India
Jayesh - DelhiCapital
The Indian Olympic Association is irked with the Sports Ministry’s attitude and said it will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shortly so that funds are released and athletes can train properly for next year’s Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Addressing the media after its executive committee meeting here on Thursday, IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said: “The council noted with concern that the attitude of the Sports Ministry has not been very positive. Instead of helping sportspersons achieve greater levels of performance, hurdles have been put up with funds not being releasd.”
On a day when Kalmadi began with the news of New Delhi getting the “right” to host a Formula One race in 2009, the later part of the press conference was devoted to how athletes were suffering because of Sports Ministry’s inaction.
It is well known that after New Delhi lost the bid to host the 2012 Asian Games to Incheon, differences between the IOA and Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar have been open. It is learnt that the Sports Ministry owes the National Rifle Association of India Rs 1.7 crore and the Athletics Federation of India Rs 1.5 crore. These were the sums spent by federations for sending athletes to compete abroad.
“Over a year ago, the IOA had got a sanction of Rs 1,536 crore for preparation in the period2006-2010 when three major multi-discipline Games are to be held. Till date, there has been no response to the same. The situation is so grave that unless the Sports Ministry acts quickly and sanctions the funds, the performance of the teams can be affected,” said a press release signed by Kalmadi and IOA secrtary Randhir Singh.
The IOA meeting also took objection to the Government’s decision to drop hockey from the priority list. “Despit repeated requests by the IOA to include all 17 disciplines to be held at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi the Sports Ministry has unilaterally dropped hockey.”
Kalmadi also said that, as Uttar Pradesh has decided to repeal the Sports Act 2005, the state would now be allowed to host the National Games in 2009. “In the past, National Games have seen infrastructure come up in abig way,” added Kalmadi.
The IOA secretary also said that the Olympic torch for the Beijing Games would pass through Mumbai next year. “The torch relay will be from Shivaji Park to Gateway of India and 80 athletes will take part,” he added.
