Gill doubles cash awards for CWG and Asian Games

The Sports Ministry doubled the cash awards for gold medal winners to Rs 20 lakhs for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to encourage sportspersons to come up with an improved performance in the upcoming mega-events.

The announcement to increase the cash incentives was made by the Sports Minister M S Gill, who also expressed confidence that the Commonwealth Games will be held successfully in October.

He said the main outcome of the Games would be the performance of our sportspersons and the sporting legacy left behind by the event.

"With a view to encouraging the sportspersons, the Minister announced doubling of cash awards for the coming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to Rs 20 lakhs (from Rs 10 lakhs) for gold medalist, Rs 10 lakhs (from Rs 5 lakhs) for silver medalist, and Rs 6 lakhs (from Rs 3 lakhs) for bronze medalist," the Ministry said in a release.

Meanwhile, the State Sports Ministers stressed on the need to enact a National Sports Act to bring more accountability in the functioning of the federations and promoting better governance.

"The State Sports Ministers unanimously resolved that there was an urgent need for enacting a National Sports Act for promoting good governance practices in the National Sports Federations, including professional management, financial accountability and good electoral practices," the statement said after the annual conference of State Sports Ministers.

"They also recommended the setting up of a National Sports Dispute Redressal Tribunal to ensure speedy resolution of sports disputes, including player's grievances," it added.

Gill also emphasised the need to promote and protect playing fields, and urged the State Governments to set up State level Playing Field Associations.

He referred to the new proposal for creation of Urban Sports Infrastructure, which envisages 100 per cent financial assistance for the setting up of community sports facilities and sports academies, coach development etc, the release said.

Gill also said that efforts are on to add over one lakh rural youth clubs to the present number of three lakh rural youth clubs, which would lead to enhancement of coverage of membership from the present level of 80 lakh to over 100 lakh youth.

He also referred to the Rajiv Gandhi Award Scheme, which promotes adventure activities among the youth, including mountaineering, trekking and desert safari, which are aimed at national integration.

The Minister said this year more than 5,000 beneficiaries will be covered as compared to 2,000 last year. He also announced that the National Youth Festival will be held at Udaipur form January 12 to 16, 2011.

The Ministry will provide a grant of Rs 2 crore to the State Government of Rajasthan for the conduct of youth festival.