Sports Development Authority to take over administration if disputes between associations persist: Aadhav Arjuna

If a dispute between sports associations remains unresolved for many months together, the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDATN) will take over the administration till they are resolved and rules in this regard are being framed, Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna said in Chennai on Tuesday.

The government will soon provide for flight tickets for all State-level teams that will represent the State in sports events in other States, Mr. Arjuna said. The Minister also said the prize money for a sports event should be the same for both the men and women teams. On the occasion, the SDATN signed a memorandum of understanding with JSW Inspire Institute of Sport.

In his speech at the International Olympic Day celebrations at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, Mr. Arjuna elaborated on some of the plans of the Sports Development Department. Soon, air-conditioning facilities will be installed in accommodations for sportspersons, he said.

Recalling his long association with the sports hostel, Mr. Arjuna said sports was his life and called upon sportspersons to take up lessons learned from sports in their day-to-day life. The Minister also advocated for cleaning up the system and to bring out reforms in sports.

During his speech, Minister for Higher Education P. Viswanathan urged Mr. Arjuna to take steps to increase the reservation in the selection for appointment of meritorious sportspersons in government departments and public sector from the existing 3% to 5% or 7%.

Sandeep Nanduri, Secretary, Sports Development, said his department was about undergo a transformation and employ many innovations. Major focus would be on world-class infrastructure, he said. He pointed out that special focus had been accorded to nutrition for sportspersons and said various grants had been increased.

J. Meghanatha Reddy, Member-Secretary, SDATN, said all activities would be focussed on getting medals in the Olympics. He said this was the first time the SDATN was organising the International Olympic Day celebrations at this scale, inviting and honouring Olympians.

Minister for School Education Rajmohan, Industries Minister S. Keerthana, and Manisha Malhotra, president, JSW Inspire Institute of Sport, also spoke.