Ministry Musings: BCCI Wants To Adopt Olympic Sports; Government Mulling Approval To OCI Athletes

The BCCI is “eager to adopt two to three Olympic disciplines” in the ambitious plan of the Ministry of Sports to have centers of individual excellence supported by companies, whose work will start this year. This was transmitted by the cricket body rich in cash at a meeting with the Minister of Sports Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on Thursday. The rally also presented “representatives of 58 business houses”. “Mr. Rajeev Shukla, who represented the BCCI at this meeting, said that the board of directors was willing to adopt two to three Olympic disciplines and that left it to the ministry to decide on these disciplines,” said a source from the Ministry of Sports.

“The ministry is delighted with this. Our plan is to build Olympic centers for each sport, which would lead to 100 to 200 of the best in the country, keeping in mind the current cycle and the next Olympic cycle.

“There were 58 companies at the meeting of today and all wanted to support this plan,” added the source.

Currently, India has 23 national centers of excellence operated by sports Authority of India (SAI). Among these, only three are monocyto-sports facilities dedicated to boxing (Rohtak), swimming (Delhi) and shooting (Delhi). The two largest NCOEs which are aimed at several sports are in Patiala and Bengaluru.

Mandaviya has repeatedly reiterated his commitment to the idea of ​​individual Olympic centers, claiming that inspiration came after observing the operation of training facilities in Japan, the United States and Australia.

The BCCI supported Olympic sports in the past by providing financial assistance to the National Sports Development Fund (RS 50 crosses in 2008) and the Indian Olympic Association (RS 8.5 crosses last year before the Paris Olympic Games).

The Board of Directors also granted RS Four believed in cash prices to the medals of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, including a crore with gold medalist Javelot Thrower Neeraj Chopra.

However, it would be the first time that the Board of Directors has been involved in shaping talents if the terms work.

An office official of BCCI Senior did not register on the details of Thursday’s meeting with Mandaviya, simply saying that “things would be communicated in the event of crystallization”.

The OIC Conundrum

India’s lack of growth in sports such as football and tennis has often led to a debate on the fact that it is a good idea to prohibit Citizens of India (OIC) card holders from representing the country in 2008. Only Indian passport holders are authorized to compete for the nation.

A source of ministry said that a revocation of this prohibition is envisaged to guarantee that “the sports ecosystem of India can be strengthened”.

However, the discussion is at a very early stage and would involve an in -depth “exchange of ideas” between stakeholders.

The deliberation mainly revolved around football and tennis.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) particularly wished to authorize it OCIS even if there are no major names which can be taken into account for India even if the prohibition is revoked.

“It’s just a preliminary discussion at this stage, it would take a long time for everything to move on this front,” said the source.

In tennis, the legendary son of Vijay Amritraj, Prakash, was one of the eminent American passport holders who could not play for India because of the ban on OIC card holders.

“There is no harm to reconsider because we would like the best of our talent to represent us. But again, it’s a very long road,” said the source.

The federations should put the house in order

The ministry’s push to keep the judiciary outside of sporting governance has continued and we learn that Mandaviya was busy meeting rival factions through various federations to sort their differences.

“The idea is to ensure that judges do not govern sports. This is not the solution. The federation must be in charge and the ministry does its best that intestine struggles do not harm athletes or do not cause disputes,” said the source of the ministry, citing the recent resolution of the administrative disorder of the struggle that dragged the court and prevented athletes from participating.

KHELO India beach games from May 18

The first games of Khelo India beach will be held between May 19 of May 19. More than 1000 athletes of 36 states and the territories of the Union should compete.

(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)