Indian sports news and discussion

[Guest]

come Olympics and its family vacation time for the various officials in the various incompetent sports federations in the country. luckily, Mr. dutt has changed a few rules and the "managers" and officials of all rank and color and up in arms.

Sports Ministry cuts IOA to size

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Departing from the norm, the Sports Ministry has decided to cut out all frills associated with managers and officials who will accompany the Olympics contingent for this year's Athens Games. But the series of cost-saving measures by the Ministry has Indian Olympic Association officials fuming.

The Ministry has kept the number of managers down to a bare minimum, clearing only three of around eight suggested by the IOA. Further, these three have been cleared in keeping with the convention being followed for almost a year — at no cost to the government.

When contacted, Sports Ministry officials said that the entire contingent would be given the ceremonial sports kit but not the out-of-pocket allowance of $35. The proposed enhancement to $50 is yet to be cleared by the Finance Ministry.

According to Ministry sources, these measures have been taken to restrict various federations from recommending names at their own "whim and fancy". "We can't clear names recommended on an ad hoc basis," revealed a source.

Except for the women's hockey team, which has appointed a manager on a long-term basis, the Ministry has not been clearing managers at the government's cost for the last few months. Incidentally, the women did not qualify for Athens. The Ministry source felt the federations should take some responsibility on this issue and should also keep the ministry abreast with their plan, both long term and short term.

"We have been funding all the athletes for various exposure trips and providing everything that's needed. We have spent and are willing to spend on them any time...but not on managers until they are planned well in advance. There's no lack of commitment from our part to promote sports. We are here to supplement the efforts of the federations."

Incidentally, this is the first time the Sports Ministry has decided to take a tough stance on officials accompanying athletes to such a mega event. They have been following this practice for smaller events.

This decision is not surprising as it comes after a series of such steps by Dutt, including his surprise visit to SAI, where he hauled up officials for  pathetic conditions in the sportspersons’ residential wing.

  <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo-->