National Sports Governance Bill to be tabled in Parliament during monsoon session: Sports Minister

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The minister also confirmed that Pakistani athletes won't be stopped from travelling to India for multi-national tournaments across sports. (PTI File photo)

The long-awaited National Sports Governance Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon session starting on 21st July, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed on Monday. The minister was speaking to the media after announcing the start of the ‘Youth Spiritual Summit’, an anti-drugs campaign, from July 18 in Varanasi.

The minister also confirmed that Pakistani athletes won’t be stopped from travelling to India for multi-national tournaments across sports. “The bill will be tabled in the Parliament during the upcoming session. I will give more details in a couple of days,” Mandaviya said.

The bill seeks to ensure greater accountability for the country’s sports administrators with the provision of a regulatory board, which would have the power to grant recognition and decide funding to National Sports Federations (NSFs) based on their adherence to provisions related to good governance.

The board will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with the highest governance, financial, and ethical standards. In addition, the draft sports bill proposes the establishment of Ethics Commissions and Dispute Resolution Commissions to ensure transparency in governance.

The regulatory board has been opposed by the Indian Olympic Association, which feels it would undermine its standing as the nodal body for all NSFs.

Reacting to news reports of the Pakistani government barring their hockey teams from coming to India for ‘security reasons’, the Sports Minister reasserted that teams from across the border won’t be stopped despite the recent conflict between the two countries. “Our stand is clear. We don’t have any problems playing with Pakistan in any international sporting event, be it cricket, hockey or any other sport. But when it comes to bilateral engagements, the government position is known to all,” Mandaviya said.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has sought clearance from its government for participation in the Junior World Cup and the Asia Cup in India.

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“We have told Pakistan that we will grant them visas for the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup hockey tournaments but it is up to their government now to decide whether to send teams or not. We have no problem,” the Sports Minister said. “Both are international tournaments and every team participating will be accorded the same treatment.”

The Asia Cup will be held in Rajgir from August 27 to September 7, while the Junior World Cup is scheduled from November 28 to December 10.

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