Apex committee to look into the progress of London Olympics

The minister apprised the media about the decision to form the committee during a function organised to celebrate the completion of fifth year of Association of Dronacharya Awardees.

Talking to the reporters Maken said, "We are forming an Apex committee which will be looking into the preparation of the London Olympics. I will be the chairman of the committee." The minister added that the committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on April 15.

On the warning given by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding tenure of sports federation heads the minister said, "It will not be wise to make any comment on IOC's remarks as of now, but we will be meeting on April 15 and I will inform you about any decision taken in this regard on that particular day."

The IOC on Thursday warned of "appropriate measures" against India in its next executive board meeting this July if the country's sports ministry goes ahead with a legislation which puts a limit on the age and tenure of federation heads.

Addressing the grievances of the Dronacharya awradees, who put forward a list of complaints in front of the minister including the demand for pension, Maken said there is a culture of Guru and Shishya in our country and it is really sad that the coach doesn't get the due for the effort he puts in to make a champion athlete.

"There is a culture of Guru and Shishya in our country. The coach puts all his effort in the making of a sports person. While the student makes a mark at the national and international level and gets the due recognition the contribution of the coach goes unnoticed.

"If there is a provision of pension for the Arjuna awardees why not for the Dronacharya award winners. It is really sad that Drohna awardee doesn't get pension," Maken stressed adding that his ministry will definitely look forward to fulfil the demand of the awardees.

On the provision to award the coaches who have trained the medal winners preceding their achievements at international level and ignoring the effort of the person who works with the athlete since the beginning of his career, Maken said that a policy in this regard will be in place soon.

Maken said, "There is a provision that the coaches who have trained the medal winners for at least 240 days immediately preceding the game will be eligible for 50 per cent of the award money given to the sportspersons.

"We are making a policy where in the coach who has worked with that ward since the onset of his journey will also be awarded," Maken added.

The minister, however, said that there will be no deductions in the award money given to the coach who worked with the athlete for 240 days preceding his achievement.

Asked if they discuss with the Drona winners before the selection of the coaches, the minister said, "Right now we have 19 foreign coaches for the Olympics. We discuss their selection with the sports federations and hope that the federation further discusses its respective athletes, besides we have observers in every sport and we also discuss it with them."

On enabling a Dronacharya awardee to take the role of an observer the minister said that there is certain criterion to be fulfilled to hold the position.

"When we can have an Arjuna awardee as an observer then why not the Dhrona winner, but there are certain criterion like age and other things which need to be looked into," he said.

Maken also ensured the association that the names of all the Dhronacharya awardees will be placed across all the training facilities and grounds which come under the Sports Authority of India (SAI).