No shortage of funds for Olympic preparation : Sports Minister

by Kheltoday · February 4, 2021

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This is the Olympic year and Olympic preparation is the major thrust of the Government right now. The big boost in SAI and NSF budget will ensure that there is no shortage of funds and Olympic preparation is on in full swing. We are preparing in the best way possible.We don’t give money to sports federations.we give money to athletes through federations. Whatever is required to athletes, we have given and as we all know that sky is the limit. Even if we need more funds we will demand for it. athletes need not to worry about it”.- Kiren Rijiju, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports

By Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi : Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has claimed that Union budget of 2021-22 has allocated Rs 1960.14 crore to the Department of Sports, a hike of 19.13 percent (Rs 306.14 crore) as compared to the budget estimate in 2019-2020.

On Wednesday speaking about the budget, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju said, “This is the Olympic year and Olympic preparation is the major thrust of the Government right now. The big boost in SAI and NSF budget will ensure that there is no shortage of funds and Olympic preparation is on in full swing. We are preparing in the best way possible.”

Rijiju explained that “We don’t give money to federations.we give money to athletes through federations. Whatever is required to athletes, we have given and as we all know that sky is the limit. Even if we need more funds we will demand for it. athletes need not to worry about it”.

The increase in budget comes with a major boost to the budget allocated to the Sports Authority of India, which is the nodal agency responsible for providing financial support to elite athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympics scheduled in July 2021. A budgetary increase in the National Sports Federation will also assist further in supporting the Olympic preparation of Indian athletes.

SAI has been allocated Rs 660.41 crores, a 32.08 percent rise in allocated budget as compared to the Budget Estimate of 2020-21. The substantial increase will lead to higher spends in the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition, which is used to fund the training of athletes. The NSFs have received an allocation of Rs 280 crore, with a hike of 14.28 percent over the budget estimate of 2020-21.

The budget for the government’s flagship Khelo India programme has also seen a 72.04 percent increase in budget estimate as compared to revised estimate for the year 2021-22. Last year, the Khelo India budget could not be used for infrastructure development or coaching camps owing to the Covid 19 pandemic.