The Hindu : National : International-standard training facility for athletes planned

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Monday, Jun 14, 2004

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International-standard training facility for athletes planned

By Our Staff Reporter

The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Dutt, going through exhibits at the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur, on Sunday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

SRIPERUMPUDUR, JUNE 13. The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports said today that the Ministry is contemplating to set up international-standard training facilities in the country to help Indian athletes prepare themselves in a better way for the next Commonwealth Games.

Talking to reporters at Rajiv Gandhi Memorial here today, after paying homage to the departed leader, the Union Minister expressed confidence that the Indian Hockey team which has been sent to the United States for training, would regain its past glory by performing well in the coming Olympics.

``The Government has spent around Rs.42 lakhs for this programme and I hope our players will make [the] best use of the opportunity extended to them to improve their skills.''

Admitting that Indian athletes lack proper coaching to prepare themselves for international-level events, Mr. Dutt said that in order to overcome this, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was planning to set up an international-standard training facility in the country. Such a facility would help cut down the cost involved in engaging foreign coaches or sending Indian athletes abroad for training.

As far as the coming Olympics was concerned, Mr. Dutt said he was confident that the Indian athletes would make their presence felt in weight-lifting, shooting and archery.

Responding to a question on the non-functioning of rural youth sports and fitness centres set up in Tamil Nadu with financial assistance from the Central Government four years ago, the Minister said the role of the Government was restricted to funding of these type of projects and it was upto the State Government to maintain them to help rural youth nourish their sporting skills.

When asked whether the Ministry has any plans to promote games other than cricket and hockey, Mr. Dutt said that there was a proposal to convene a meeting of Sports/Education Ministers of all the States to work out a strategy to promote all form of sports and games.

With regard to the controversy over Bollywood stars overshadowing sportspersons in the just concluded Olympic torch rally at the capital, the Minister said neither the New Delhi Government nor the Indian Olympics Association had anything to do with it. It was the sponsors who had invited the film personalities to participate in the run.

Later, Mr. Dutt participated in a youth motivation and empowerment programme held at the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development here. Speaking on the occasion, he commended the involvement of NSS and Nehru Yuva Kendra volunteers in carrying out society-oriented programmes in Tamil Nadu.

He had also announced that the Ministry would allot Rs.2 crores to the institute to take up construction of an auditorium and Rs.37 lakhs for the programmes being conducted by the institute through NSS and NYK in rural areas.

Participating in the meeting, the Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Meenaxi Anand Chaudhary, said the youth clubs formed under NYK should have social consciousness and act as information centres for their local area people.

The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Vandana K. Jena, said the performance of non-political rural youth fora such as NYK and NSS in Tamil Nadu was very good. The NYK and NSS members should ensure that the youth force available in their respective locality turns out to be the strength of the country and not as a weakness.

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