IOA to hike aid for NSFs

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 23:  In a significant development the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has decided to increase the amount of fincial assistance to each tiol Sports Federation (NSF)  and state Olympic Association from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per anum. . The decision was taken in the Annual General Meeting of the IOA which was held in a city hotel today.

Disclosing the news, an official of the IOA said, “At present different NSFs and state Olympic Associations are receiving Rs 3 lakh each but from next year the amount will be increased to Rs 5 lakh as IOA has been able to woo sponsorships from the private sector.”

Several subjects were placed for discussion in today’s meeting which was attended by all top officials of the IOA that included president N Ramachandran, secretary general Rajeev Mehta and treasurer Anil Khan.

Goa, which is scheduled to host the next tiol Games, was asked in the meeting to fix a date for the Games as early as possible. Although Goa was allloted the games a few years back, yet they have not filized the date of the Games which has created problems to prepare the schedules of different events and meets.

The meeting decided to follow strict rules on the date of the tiol Games as there are many occasions earlier when different states failed to hold the Games on the schedule date. “From now on wards, the IOA will follow strict rules in this regard. Any states failing to organize the Games on schedule will have to pay a fine of Rs 10 crore,” said the official. Andhra Pradesh, who want to host tiol Games in 2019,  today submitted their bid and they also deposited Rs 50 lakh as security amount.

Meanwhile, the IOA decided to back the All India Tennis Association and Judo Federation of India in their fight against the Sports Ministry. The Ministry recently asked the heads of the two NSFs to step down under the contentious tenure limit provisions of the Sports Code, which demands a cooling-off period of four years before a secretary seeking re-election after two successive terms. However, NSFs and IOA are not in favour of this rule  “A discussion in this regard is necessary, and a delegation team will meet the officials of the Sports Ministry soon to bring the matter to them,” added the official

The next edition of the SAF Games will be jointly hosted by Guwahati and Shillong from February 5. The organizing committee of the SAF Games today made a special presentation on the preparation of the Games at the meeting.