NEW DELHI: Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore announced on Wednesday that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) would be renamed Sports India.
The decision was taken at SAI’s governing body meeting here Wednesday.
“Sports Authority of India is being renamed. The word authority is being removed. It will be known as Sports India now,” Rathore announced in a press statement released after the meeting.
The governing body also cleared the way for entering into public-private partnerships for stadia maintenance and modernisation.
“SAI will explore options for entering into public private partnership with appropriate agencies, including global agencies to develop the stadia, utilise the extra land which is currently not being used by the athletes, so that new facilities are created for sports which are accessible to the general public, the stadia are better maintained and revenue generation is augmented,” the release stated.
The SAI governing body was of the view that: “Such development of the stadia will ensure that the rights of athletes in the coaching camps and other sports activities in the sports calendar are given priority and are fully protected. The sporting activities would not be disturbed and additional facilities would be available for the general public as well as to generate additional revenue which can be ploughed back into the development of sports.”
The governing body also advised SAI to bring in, “reputed companies in the hospitality sector to manage the residential and food facilities in the SAI Residential Scheme”.
The meeting emphasised that the highest quality of food and nutrition which was appropriate to the development of athletes at various levels should be ensured and there should be zero compromise on this issue.
The governing body also approved the cadre restructuring proposal for SAI employees which would enable early and more efficient management structure. This would not involve creation of any additional posts and would be revenue neutral.
The Secretariat for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was also approved to provide support to the Mission Olympic Cell.
Among other decisions were the renovation of the old Gymnastics Hall and old Boxing Hall at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, upgradation of shooting equipment at the Karni Singh Range, modernisation of the Sports Library at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and setting up of South Asian Paralympics Centre at Gandhinagar.
SAI was formed in 1984 and co-incidentally, this was its 50th governing body meeting, PTI reports.
