Even as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) talked about plans of bringing Formula 1 racing to the Capital at astronomical costs on Thursday it also complained about the lack of funds that has stalled the preparations of the Indian teams for the Commonwealth Games to be held here in 2010.

In what was described by IOA President Suresh Kalmadi as a "stormy meeting", the Executive Council decided to send a delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to plead for more Government support.

Trusted ploy

Clearly unhappy with the way the Union Sports Ministry has in recent times stalled funds for the National federations and with the manner in which the former has downgraded certain sports, including hockey, in its categorisation, the IOA has fallen back on its trusted ploy, of taking a delegation to the Prime Minister.

The delegation will include All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who will arrange the meeting. No date has been fixed.

Mr. Kalmadi said that all the members had "many grievances about the functioning of the Sports Ministry". He added that no training grants were forthcoming and there was hardly any coaching going on in preparation for the 2010 Games.

The IOA Chief said that the Council was critical of the ministry's decision to downgrade hockey at a time when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had given the game a boost and India was preparing to host the World Cup.

The ministry was demanding "utilization certificates" for the past 15 years in order to release grants to the federations. "Funding has come to a halt in a few federations," Mr. Kalmadi said.

Non-cooperation

Archery Association of India (AAI) President Vijay Kumar Malhotra moved a resolution expressing "great concern" about the total non-cooperation of the Sports Ministry with the IOA and the federations.

Asked why the IOA was bypassing Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and whether he had held meetings with the minister in recent times, Mr. Kalmadi was evasive.

The IOA welcomed the decision of the Uttar Pradesh Government to withdraw the Sports Bill and decided to give the 2009 National Games back to the State. Jharkhand will host the 2008 edition.

The Beijing Olympic Games flame will be brought to Mumbai on April 17, 2008 and carried through a relay from Shiavji Park to Gateway of India by around 100 runners.

Forty `qualify'

Around 40 sportspersons from India had "qualified" for the Afro-Asian Games to be held in Algiers from July 28 to August 6.

The top four from the Doha Asian Games will form the Asian contingent to be entered by the Olympic Council of Asia.

Eight disciplines will be featured in the Algiers Games: Athletics, gymnastics, swimming, weightlifting, judo, tennis, shooting and football.

Asked about IOA's plans to bid for the next edition of the Afro-Asian Games in 2011, Mr. Kalmadi said the matter was "under discussion".

India had hosted the inaugural games in Hyderabad in 2003.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail