Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports | Infrastructure for 2020 Olympics

Minister of State (I/C) Shri Kiren Rijiju has informed that Sports infrastructure and other sports facilities at five stadia of Sports Authority of India (SAI) in New Delhi and Regional Centres of SAI are of international standards. Upgradation of sports facilities at SAI stadia and regional centres in terms of infrastructure and equipment is carried out as an ongoing process. The details of SAI infrastructure created/ being created since 2016-17 to till date is at Annexure-I. The Government has also given assistance from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for infrastructure development/ up-gradation to organisations and sports academies. Details of assistance given for infrastructure development during last three years is at Annexure-II. In addition to enhancing the infrastructure facilities, requisite facilities in terms of coaching, equipment, diet etc. are being made available at various National Coaching Camps organised for the respective sports disciplines for preparation of Indian sportspersons and teams for Tokyo Olympics, 2020. Through the schemes such as Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) the identified promising sportspersons and teams have also been given exposure to train abroad or participate in events/ competitions abroad as measures for further enhancing their preparedness for 2020 Olympics.

Sports promotional schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are gender neutral and cater to the entire population of the country, including both male and female sportspersons. To promote sports in the country, Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following sports promotional schemes to identify talented sports persons including women in the age group of 8-25 years and to nurture them to excel at National and International competitions:

1. National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) (61 Centres)
2. Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) (26 Centres)
3. SAI Training Centre (STC) (59 Centres)
4. Special Area Games (SAG) (21 Centres)
5. Extension Centres of STC/SAG (90 Centres)
6. Centre of Excellence (COE) (16 Centres)
7. National Sports Academies (NSA)

Presently, 14236 talented sports persons including 4269 girls are being trained in 27 sports disciplines in SAI centres. Further, in order to provide women conducive environment, SAI has also established three SAI training centres exclusively for women sports persons at Badal (Punjab), Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) and Medikeri (Karnataka).

Also, the component of ‘Sports for Women’ has been given special emphasis in revamped Khelo India scheme- National programme for development of sports in India. Under this vertical, support was extended by the Government towards hosting of International Boxing Association (AIBA) Women’s World Boxing Championship held in New Delhi 2018 by providing financial assistance of Rs. 3.00 crore. 295 athletes have been assisted through Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) since inception of TOPS in 2014 till date. Apart from their customised training at world class training institutes within the country and abroad, sportspersons included in TOPS are paid out of pocket allowance at the rate of Rs. 50, 000/- per month. Selection of athletes in TOPS is an ongoing process.