By IANS
New Delhi : In a unanimous resolution passed here Saturday, India’s national sports federations (NSFs) rejected the new draft sports policy and authorised the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to deal with the sports ministry on the issue.
The decision was taken at a meeting between the IOA and the NSFs here.
IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, who is at loggerheads with Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar over the contents of the draft, blamed the ministry for not releasing money for training athletes for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
“What is the need for a new sports policy when the last one formulated in 2001 has still not been implemented? That was made in consultation with the federations. In sports there is dialogue, discussion and harmony,” he said after the meeting.
“There are just three years to the Commonwealth Games, and just one year for the Commonwealth Youth Games (in Pune in 2008). Sadly, we have not begun even one coaching camp, all because the funds promised and cleared have not been released.”
The bone of contention is a “regulatory authority” that the ministry has proposed in the draft policy. IOA fears that its monopoly would be undermined if this authority is established.
IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh referred to this, saying the Olympic Movement does not allow any such body controlling IOA.
“The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have already sent letters, saying IOA should not accept any Regulatory Authority and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is also expected to say the same. That is like a warning to the IOA,” he said.
The ministry has posted the draft on its website and invited the IOA, the NSFs, sports secretaries of the states and the public at large to give suggestions before the draft is placed before the cabinet and then parliament for the new policy to come into effect.
IOA and the NSFs boycotted in protest a meeting called by the ministry here Aug 17. But the ministry’s meetings with the state sports secretaries and elite former sportspersons were heavily attended.
Instead, IOA called all the NSFs for a meeting Saturday. Another meeting between the IOA and all the state Olympic associations is scheduled next Friday.
Kalmadi said that the IOA and the federations need time to study the draft.
“We will have a meeting with the state Olympic associations in a week’s time. Then we will meet the eminent sportspersons on Sep 15 and followed by (a meeting with) the media for their views. We hope to have all things finished by the end of the month,” he said.
Kalmadi, who also blames Aiyar for Delhi losing the bid to host the 2014 Asian Games, pointed out: “Good coaches cost money. International coaches demand a salary of $8,000 to $10,000 and we are allowed only $2,000 or $2,500.”
In July, the ministry had 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 a war of words has started between Aiyer and Kalmadi, who claims that the ministry is ignoring IOA.