Olympics
New Delhi: The Sports Ministry today cleared the three Indian athletes qualified for next month's Winter Olympics at government cost despite the trio taking part in the Sochi Games as Independent Athletes.
Shiva Keshavan (in luge), Himanshu Thakur (in alpine skiing) and Nadeem Iqbal (cross country skiing) have been cleared by the government for the February 7-23 Games after a meeting chaired by Sports Minister Jitendra Singh.
The Ministry decided to provide the funds for air travel, out of pocket allowance, for sports kit including ceremonial dress, and boarding and lodging in case it is not provided free in the Games Village in Sochi.
"The Ministry has directed SAI to release funds to WGFI immediately for the required components under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs for the three sportspersons and three coaches who would be accompanying them," a Sports Ministry release stated.
"It included (i) Air passage cost (economy class): as per actuals or differential of the actual air passage cost and the air passage cost provided by the Organizing Committee of the Games. (ii) Out of pocket allowance: USD 50 per day per person for the period of the stay of the sportspersons and coaches in Sochi. (iii) Sports Kit including ceremonial dress: Rs. 20,000 per person, (iv) Boarding and lodging: as per norms provided in the Ministry's Scheme of Assistance to NSFs, in case Organizing Committee of the Games is not providing free boarding and lodging in the Games Village," it added.
The Ministry, however, delayed the sanction of the funds related to buying of expensive equipments for Himanshu and Iqbal requested by the Winter Games Federation of India. The WGFI had said that the duo would need to buy new equipments for the Games -- at least Rs 6 lakhs per athlete -- as the specifications of the equipments for Winter Olympics are different from the ones they have been using.
"The Ministry is separately examining the request of the WGFI for grant of funds for players and coaches from the National Sports Development Fund for items such as ski, ski boot, Ski Stick, Ski Suit and snow clothing which are not covered under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations," the Ministry said.
The Ministry also clarified that request for financial assistance for participation of Indian sportspersons in Winter Olympics was made only on December 28 as against the requirement of sending the proposal for financial assistance at least 90 days before commencement of a sports event.
But the Ministry insisted that as a special case, the request has been considered.
Two Indian athletes still uncertain to take part in Winter Oly
Two Indian athletes still uncertain to take part in Winter Oly
New Delhi: Two of the three Indian athletes, who have qualified for next month's Winter Olympics, still face uncertainty over their participation as the Sports Ministry delayed the release of funds to buy expensive equipment that are mandatory for the Games.
New Delhi: Two of the three Indian athletes, who have qualified for next month's Winter Olympics, still face uncertainty over their participation as the Sports Ministry delayed the release of funds to buy expensive equipment that are mandatory for the Games.
Alpine skier Himanshu Thakur and cross country skier Nadeem Iqbal need to buy new equipment to be able to participate in February 7-23 Sochi Games but they cannot afford to spend Rs 6 lakh each, the minimum they would need.
Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI) had made the request to the Sports Ministry to sanction the required funds as the athletes otherwise would be disqualified without the new equipment. The athletes need a whole set as they have to use equipment of different specifications in the Winter Olympics.
The Ministry, after an internal meeting chaired by Sports Minister Jitendra Singh today, only decided to examine the request for sanction of funds for the equipment like ski board, ski boot, ski stick, ski suit, snow clothing, helmet and goggles. WGFI Secretary Roshan Lal Thakur told PTI that it would now be a case of racing against time to buy the expensive equipment.
"I have got a letter from the Ministry today, stating that the Minister has directed the SAI to make comments on WGFI's request for funds to buy expensive equipment by January 17 so that he can take a decision," Thakur said.
"We have to buy the equipments from Europe -- preferably from Italy or Austria -- and I hope that the Ministry releases the required fund as soon as possible. It will be a case of running against time even if the Ministry releases the fund.
"I was thinking that the Ministry would release the funds today and I was preparing to order the equipments online. You need time for the equipments to reach here in India after placing the order. It's not like I am buying a thing inside India," he added.
Thakur said, if at all there was not enough time to buy the equipment, he would ask some athletes or officials of other countries taking part in Winter Games to buy and bring the equipment to Sochi.
"I have friends in other countries who are taking part in Sochi. In a worst case scenario, I can request them to buy and bring the equipment in Sochi. I want the athletes to take part in the Winter Olympics somehow."
The Sports Ministry today released funds for economy class air travel, out of pocket allowance (USD 50 per day per person), sports kit including ceremonial dress (Rs. 20,000 per person) and for boarding and lodging if the Sochi Games Organising Committee is not providing them free.
Thakur said that the Ministry officials must have taken the sports kit differently, separate from the equipment.
"By sports kit, the Ministry must be thinking about the usual bag and clothing like track suit or jersey and shoes etc. But for Winter Olympics sports, it is different. I had mentioned it in my letter of request to sanction funds that we need money to buy new sports kits like ski board, ski boot, ski stick, ski suit, snow clothing, helmet and goggles."
Himasnhu, who is now preparing for the Games by taking part in an event at Shemshak in Iran, had said that he was worried that he could be disqualified from the Games due to lack of proper equipment.
"I have to buy the whole sports kits as the ones I am using now will not be accepted in Sochi. I am fearing that I may be thrown out at the starting line. I will have to forget Winter Games if the government does not sanction the money," he had said.
"The whole sports kit will cost at least Rs 6 lakh at the minimum. It can be more according to quality. I don't have the money to buy the equipment. Whatever the money I had, I had spent on participating in events outside India to get qualified for the Games," he said, adding that under the rules, the athletes will have to use different equipment for Olympics and other events.
( Source : PTI )
Next Story
