New Delhi (NVI): In a big boost to Fit India Movement, the Government has decided to give access to state-owned play-fields and sporting infrastructure to the national and state sports federations, leagues and clubs, for organising sports events free of cost. This shall come in force from 1st November 2019.
“This move comes in order to further the Fit India Movement and to make playfields and sporting infrastructure accessible, to all sports persons all over the country. The sporting facilities will also be accessible free of cost to coaches training athletes who are not part of camps organised in Sports Authority of India centers,” the Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju has said.
In the first phase, stadiums in Delhi like Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Stadium, Major Dhyanchand Stadium and Karni Singh Shooting Range will be opened for state and national federations to host competitions, tournaments and leagues of all sporting disciplines. The Federations and Leagues will not be charged for use of the facilities in these stadiums.
This move will also allow non-SAI coaches to train their athletes at the stadium without any charge, provided that the coach has a minimum of at least 10 wards under his or her training. Coaches can book training sessions online from November 1, however the coach can charge a reasonable training fee from his or her trainees. Youngsters who aren’t training for any sport professionally will also have access to these facilities and can play a game of their choice by advance online booking against available slots, provided they have to get their photo identity cards made from Sports Authority of India at nominal cost.
Consequent to the decision, the All India Football Federation and Hockey India have already charted out a roadmap for conducting a number of leagues and competitions in the next three months. The first league in the calendar is the Khelo India Golden League, at JLN, which will see football played by U-7, U-9 and U-11 boys and girls.
-bp/nad
