By IANS
New Delhi : The sports ministry said Tuesday it has invited the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the national sports federations and prominent sportsperson later this month to discuss the draft of the new sports policy.
Sports secretary S.K. Arora said here that all are invited to give their feedback on the draft that has been posted on the ministry’s website www.yas.nic.in
“The ministry has invited the IOA and the national sports federations on Aug 17 for their feedback on the draft sports policy,” Arora said at a book release function.
“On Aug 22, we have invited the state sports associations, and on Aug 28 eminent sports personalities,” he said.
The ministry had last month sought to consult all stakeholders, including the general public, on the draft of the Comprehensive National Sports Policy 2007, aimed at “… transforming India into a leading sporting nation within the next decade…”.
But even before the new policy is finally adopted, a war of words has erupted between Sports Minister Mani Shanker Aiyer and IOA president Suresh Kalmadi.
Kalmadi has claimed that the ministry wants to ignore IOA before finalising the policy, a claim that Arora refuted.
“This is just a draft and we have put it up on the website and everyone is invited (to offer suggestions),” he said.