Olympic medal winners will be offered coaching jobs: Maken

Sports Minister Ajay Maken said the Government of India will offer coaching jobs to its athletes who win medals at the 30th Olympic Games starting today.

"Government of India has decided to offer coaching jobs to all past and present medal winners at the Olympics," Maken said while speaking at a reception hosted at India House in honour of the Indian Olympic Team.

Maken hoped the announcement would motivate the 81-strong Indian contingent to perform well "so that they are assured of a job for life."

Initially they would get pay-scales equivalent to an Assistant Commissioner of Police and they would also get quick promotions based on their performance.

"In India, there is so much of excitement and expectation from the Olympic contingent. For the first time, India is represented by 81-strong contingent. This is the biggest reason for such expectations. Last time the Indian contingent was 56-member strong," he said.

He said government had spent about Rs 200 crore during the last one year for training the athletes.

Welcoming the Indian Olympic Team, the High Commissioner of India, Jaimini Bhagwati wished "all athletes particularly Indian athletes and other sportsmen and women success in the Olympics."

Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Gulam Noon, founder chairman of Noon Products, Virendra Sharma, MP, Ms Seema Malhotra, MP were among those who attended the reception.