The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Athletes protest against hike in ID card fee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

Sport

Sport - Athletics

Athletes protest against hike in ID card fee

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, AUG. 4. The athletes and coaches at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium came together in a common platform to express their solidarity against the hike in the identity card fee.

The stadium authorities — the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) — had recently hiked the ID card fee from the existing Rs. 50 to Rs. 200 which was protested by athletes.

Banners stating "We Oppose the New Identity Card System'' and "Stop, Step Motherly Treatment to Athletes" were displayed. Athletes refused to enter the tracks today and promised to intensify the protest if no action is taken to reduce the fee structure

"With nearly 1,000 athletes using the synthetic tracks what are the authorities planning to do with the Rs. two lakh, that is going to be generated with this fee hike? Or are they claiming that this amount is the shortfall that they are faced with in the maintenance of the stadium", asked Ashwini Nachappa, former Olympian and Arjuna awardee.

Former State and National players from other disciplines too expressed their solidarity with the athletes.

While other sportsmen and women enjoy free access to their venues its only the athletes who are taxed with these restrictive norms. "DYSS had also instructed that only top six from the State in each event will be authorised to use the facilities at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, that too with just one jumping pit and a restricted weight training and throwing facilities," claimed the press release from the coaches.

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