Sports
Kerala to press the pedal on sports: Chandy
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 14
A new sports
policy, a sports university and numerous sops for athletes and coaches
are on the anvil in Kerala, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here
Saturday.
Chandy made this announcement at the Games Village that
hosted around 5,000 athletes and officials during the 35th National
Games that concluded Friday. Kerala finished second with Services taking
the first place.
"After the stupendous success of the National
Games, we have decided to constitute a five-member committee of top
officials to formulate a new sports policy for the Kerala government
which they will submit in a month's time," said Chandy.
A new
sports university will be set up with the support of the central
government. This was announced by union sports minister Sarbananda
Sonowal when he took part in the inaugural function of the Games here
Jan 31.
"A new sports school and college will begin in the coming
academic year and admission will be open to only people who excel in
sports and games," said Chandy.
"We will honour our budding
sports talents by giving them government jobs. Also, 250 new posts will
be immediately created for this. All those government officials who won
medals in the present National Games will get either an increment or a
grade promotion, depending on which they choose," said Chandy.
Those
who won gold in the present Games will get Rs.5 lakhs, silver medal
winners Rs.3 lakhs while bronze medal winners will be given Rs. two
lakhs. The coaches will also be honoured.
"We will soon entrust
the newly created sports stadia (around 24) to bodies like the Kerala
State Sports Council, Kerala Police, State Sports Directorates and
district collectors for their upkeep and maintenance as well as to allow
interested people to use the facilities," said Chandy.
He also
pointed out that any person from Kerala who is selected to represent
India in the Olympics, will be given a gazetted job immediately.
"We
have also announced a cash prize of Rs.10 million to winners from here
in the 2016 Olympics and Rs.5 million to winners in the upcoming Asian
and Commonwealth Games," added Chandy.
Indian Olympic Association
(IOA) President N. Ramachandran said they will be glad to organise
their future competitions in Kerala.