Year End Review

 

Major Achievements and Highlights of Department of Sports

 

Record performance by Indian sportspersons at London Olympics and Paralympics 2012:

India won six medals (2 Silver and 4 Bronze), which is India’s best ever performance at Olympic Games.  Shri Vijay Kumar won silver medal in 25 metre Rapid Fire Pistol. Shri Sushil Kumar won silver medal in wrestling (66 kg weight category) and thus became the first Indian to win medals for the country in back to back Olympics. Ms. M.C. Markykom won bronze medal in boxing and became the first Indian woman to win a medal in boxing discipline. Ms. Saina Nehwal won the bronze medal in badminton in women’s singles and became the first Indian to win a medal in badminton discipline.  While Shri Gagan Narang won bronze medal in shooting (10 metre air rifle), Shri Yogeshwar Dutt won bronze medal in wrestling in 60 kg weight category. In the London Paralympics, 2012, Mr. H. N. Girisha won silver medal in High Jump at London Paralympics 2012. . 

81 sportspersons (57 men and 24 women) participated in London Olympics in 13 sports disciplines viz., Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming,  Table Tennis, Tennis,  Weightlifting and Wrestling.

10 Indian athletes participated in the London Paralympics 2012.

 

Operation Excellence for London Olympics (OPEX – 2012) 

With a view to preparing athletes and teams for London Olympics 2012, the Government had launched Project ‘Operation Excellence for London Olympics 2012’ (OPEX 2012) in 2011, which continued upto the conclusion of London Olympics and London Paralympics 2012. This programme envisaged undertaking Operation Excellence (OPEX) in the run-up to the games, entailing training, coaching and all other facilities for teams and individual competitors in different disciplines. There were two operational arms in implementing the programme.

Under OPEX, 732 core probables were identified and provided comprehensive and intensive training, both within the country and abroad as well as competition exposure in International Sports competitions. Keeping in view the performance of Indian teams/individuals in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and other international tournaments, 16 disciplines, namely, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Swimming, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling were identified for systematic and scientific training.

Funds for preparation of athletes for London Olympics were provided at norms, which were at par with scales for Commonwealth Games 2010, with further upscaling in certain areas, such as lodging, nutrition, scientific support and daily allowance.

 Under OPEX 2012, a total of 129 Indian coaches and 21 foreign coaches were selected. 32 Govt. observers in the identified disciplines were appointed to ensure effective conduct of National Coaching Camps and for fair selection of players for international exposures and qualifying competitions. With a view to ensuring the best possible nutrition and diet to athletes, a committee of experts was appointed. In addition to this, a three member oversight Committee consisting of one member each from IOA, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the concerned sport discipline was also constituted to visit the national camps periodically to check the standards of food and of infrastructure in these camps. Indian athletes and teams participated in 146 international tournaments such as World Championships, Asian Championships, Commonwealth Championships etc., of respective disciplines in the run-up to the London Olympic Games. The total amount spent under OPEX 2012 was Rs. 142.47 crore, which included Rs. 70.55 crore on foreign competition exposures.

Efforts made by the Ministry and Sports Authority of India under OPEX 2012 Project yielded remarkable results for the country and the country got six medals (2 silver and 4 bronze) in the London Olympics, 2012, which is so far the highest ever medal haul for India in Olympics.

 

Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA)

 

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan’ (PYKKA), which was introduced in 2008-09 with the objective of broad-basing of sports by way of creation/development of basic sports infrastructure in all village panchayats and block panchayats of the country in a phased manner over a period of 10 years and providing access to organized sports competitions at block, district, state and national levels, 6618 Village panchayats and 278 Block Panchayats were approved for creation of basic sports infrastructure/playfields  upto the end of November, 2012 in 19 States/UTs and funds amounting to Rs. 120.99 crore were released. So far, 56,414 Village Panchayats and 1739 Block Panchayats have been approved for creation/development of basic playfields under the scheme of PYKKA since its introduction in 2008-09.

 

Funds amounting to Rs. 50.64 crore were released  upto the end of November during 2012 to 18 states and SAI for conduct of rural sports competitions at block, district, state and national levels, women competitions and North East Games. 

 

Convergence of PYKKA with MGNREGA:

 

(i)                Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), inter alia, provides leverage to the village panchayats to undertake activities like leveling of land which includes playfields. Invoking this provision, some States have already availed funds for development of playfields in village/block panchayats.

 

(ii)             Some States expressed difficulties in availing benefits under MGNREGA for leveling of playfields in the absence of a specific provision in the relevant scheme. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports took up the matter with the Ministry of Rural Development for inclusion of the playfields also as one of the admissible activities under MGNREGA Scheme. The Ministry of Rural Development has agreed to allow construction of playground as a permissible activity under MGNREGA.

 

Convergence of PYKKA with MPLAD & MLALAD Schemes:

 

(i)                The PYKKA scheme encourages the village/block panchayats to mobilize additional resources from the MLALAD scheme, MPLAD scheme, Backward Region Grant Fund, Private Contribution etc. 

 

(ii)             Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports took up the matter with the Ministry of  Statistics and Programme Implementation to consider favorably inclusion of the PYKKA activities under the MPLAD scheme. The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation considered the request and it has been decided that funds from Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) can be converged with PYKKA with the objective of creating more durable assets. MPs may recommend under MPLADS, works such as development of Playfields only of fixed and durable nature under PYKKA including leveling of playfields in hilly areas, construction of boundary wall etc. in villages and  blocks from out of the shelf of PYKKA projects, if otherwise eligible under MPLAD Scheme.   

National Seminar–Cum-Training Programme on “Start To Move- Developing Physical Literacy”

PYKKA Resource Centre at LNPUE, Gwalior conducted a 4-day National Seminar–cum-Training Programme on “Start to Move- Developing Physical Literacy” from 16^th to 19^th November, 2012.  Three  experts from Youth Sports Trust of  United Kingdom and 22 participants from 10 States attended the Programme. The objective  was to share knowledge, expertise, resources, material and experience for primary school children (4-7 Yrs.) and support strengthening of the community sports structure and delivery mechanism, especially in the context of the PYKKA programme.

Start to Move aims to:

·                     equip teachers with the techniques and confidence to teach core movement skills;

·                     give children the movement skills, enthusiasm and confidence to begin lifelong participation in physical activity and sport; and

·                     support learning in PE in ways similar to other subjects i.e. helping children to learn the ABCs of movement.

 

Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme:

 

Under the Central Sector Scheme ‘Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme’ (USIS), which was introduced in 2010-11 on pilot basis for creation/development of sports infrastructure facilities in urban areas, following 11 urban sports infrastructure projects such as athletic track, hockey turf, football ground, multi-purpose halls, worth Rs. 61.5 crore were sanctioned upto the end of November during 2012:

Rs. in crore

 

 

Exposure Draft on National Physical Fitness Programme for School Children:

The Ministry has prepared and circulated an exposure draft on the National Physical Fitness Programme among the concerned stakeholders such as Ministry of Human Resources Development and all State Governments. The Exposure Draft has also been put in public domain on the website of the Ministry inviting suggestions/comments from the general public within one month. The programme aims at ensuring Physical Fitness Programme amongst the school children by putting into place a system that would assess and ascertain a child’s physical fitness from class V onwards on six components viz. Cardio respiratory endurance, Muscular strength, Muscular endurance, Flexibility, Explosive Strength and Body composition. It would entail the formulation of a scientific programme and criteria to first motivate and encourage school going children of both sexes to be physically fit and concurrently evaluate their fitness. The scheme needs to be motivational rather than coercive and to obtain this, the achievement of fitness by the child is to be rewarded in a manner similar to reward for academic achievement.

 

Setting up of National Institute of Sports Science and Sports Medicine:

 

The Government has decided to set up the National Institute of Sports Science and Sports Medicine at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The Institute will aim at fostering the much needed disciplines of Physiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Biochemistry, Biomedical, Anthropometry and Sports Medicine, with the purpose of providing cutting edge excellence to Indian Sports and athletes.  The Expenditure Finance Committee has approved the proposal for setting up the National Institute of Sports Science & Sports Medicine.

 

SAI and AIFF Sign Agreement to Develop JLN Stadium as Football Hub

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and All India Football Federation (AIFF) have signed an agreement to develop the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium as a football hub in the country.

 

As per the agreement, SAI will enable use of the Stadium by AIFF including the main pitch for a maximum period of 40 days per year. SAI will also provide AIFF the outside practice ground of the stadium free of cost for 50 days in a year along with other necessary facilities available in the stadium for smooth conduct of national and international football tournaments. AIFF will hold international matches and domestic tournaments and for the remaining period out of 40 days, it will hold coaching camps and clinics related to Football. The agreement will be valid for 1 year and can be extended further for 2 years on the basis of review and mutual understanding.

 

Cash awards worth Rs. 5.00 Crore (Five Crore) distributed to Sportspersons:

During the year, the Ministry sanctioned cash awards worth Rs. 5.00 Crore (Five Crore) to 175 sportspersons, who won medals in various international sports events including London Olympics 2012. Silver medalists and bronze medalists of London Olympics 2012 were given cash award of Rs. 30 lakh each and Rs. 20 lakh each respectively.

 

Measures taken towards ensuring Good Governance in Sports Bodies

The Ministry de-recognized the Archery Association of India for not following the provisions relating to age and tenure limits contained in the National Sports Development Code in election of its office bearers despite the Delhi High Court’s directive to the Association. The Ministry has advised the Archery Association of India to amend its constitution to incorporate the provisions of age and tenure limits, which are similar to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter and hold fresh elections in accordance with the amended constitution. 

The Ministry also suspended recognition of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation for the irregularities in the election of its office bearers.

The Ministry also set aside the election to the post of President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). It was found that Clause XIV (b) (1) of the Constitution of AFI required that a person must be an existing member of the Executive Committee of the AFI for seeking election to the post of President/Secretary. This clause was found to be restricting the potential candidates and was also in violation of the National Sports Development Code 2011. It was also observed that the election to the post of Treasurer was also in contravention of the Department of Personnel & Training’s Circular dated 22.04.1994. AFI has been directed to amend its constitution to delete article XIV(b)(1) and hold fresh elections to the post of  President, Secretary and Treasurer.  AFI has been advised that if the above action is not carried out within a period of 60 days, or 28^th February 2013, whichever is earlier, the recognition of AFI shall stand withdrawn without any further notice. 

 

Suspension of Indian Olympic Association by International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken a decision at its Executive Board meeting on 4.11.2012 to suspend the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Reasons cited by the IOC for suspension of the IOA are IOA’s failure to comply with the Olympic Charter and its statutes, failure to inform the IOC in a timely manner, and as a protective measure against Government interference in the IOA’s election process.  The Executive Board of IOC has also confirmed that the IOA is not entitled to hold any elections until all pending issues are resolved and the Executive Board decides to lift the suspension. With this decision of the IOC, IOA will no longer be entitled to exercise any activity or right, including financial support, conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter or the IOC until the suspension is lifted by the Executive Board. 

The Government of India is of the opinion that the IOC’s decision to attribute this suspension to the Government interference in the IOA’s election process is entirely misplaced, as the National Sports Development Code includes such age and tenure guidelines for office-bearers of Sports Bodies as are enshrined in the Olympic Charter itself. They are similar to the practices followed by the IOC and are drawn from the Constitution of the IOC and have been upheld by the Courts of Law in India. All that the Sports Code seeks to achieve is to ensure that the election of the IOA and others sports bodies are fair, transparent and in consonance with the Olympic Charter. Further, although the Government desires that the Sports Code should be adopted by all National Sports Federations including IOA, the trigger to the present election was not a directive of Government but an order from the Delhi High Court in a petition filed by a private person.

In fact, it is not the Sports Code, but the IOA’s constitution which is not aligned with the Olympic Charter. The IOA had agreed to amend its constitution in 2010, but has failed to bring about the necessary amendments in the past 2 years. Had this been done, there would have been no cause for intervention by the IOC. 

The Government is also keen that the principles of ethics & good governance enshrined in the Olympic Charter should be rigidly adhered to in the elections of the IOA.

It was with the intention of resolving the impasse that the Government offered to hold a meeting with the IOC for discussing issues of good governance and fair election processes in Indian sports bodies.

The Government reiterates that it is ready to discuss with the IOC and the IOA all issues related to the Sports Code and its compatibility with the Olympic Charter. Government will take all possible measures to protect the interests of Indian sportspersons so that they can continue to participate in international sports meets under the Indian National Flag. 

The Ministry has already started discussions with all stakeholders, including the National Sports Federations, eminent sportspersons, persons from the civil society etc in order to find a way out of the situation created by the action of the IOC.          

****

AD/DB