PM’s Oly task force stays where it was — on paper

Sabi Hussain

New Delhi, January 23

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to set up a 12-member task force to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the next three Olympics Games is heading nowhere.

The announcement in this regard was made in August 2016 but nothing has happened so far on the ground and the members of the group are yet to be named. The task force was supposed to become functional within a few days of the announcement but nothing has happened even though five months have elapsed since the announcement. 

“No formal meeting on the task force has taken place till now. No names have been finalised. The issue is still in the discussion phase. It was supposed to work under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) but the file has not moved in the Ministry’s corridors,” a Sports Ministry official said.

“While announcing the task force, the PMO had also asked the Ministry for a review report on India’s below-par show in the Rio Olympics. We submitted the report in September,” the official added. The proposed task force was aimed at boosting India’s medal haul at the Olympics by preparing an overall strategy for sports infrastructure, training and equipment needs, funding, exposure trips and selection.

With a few assembly elections round the corner, it may take a few more months to decide the names. “The Sports Minister has held some meetings but they were about discussing the ways to improve the medal count in the Olympics. There has not been any mention of the task force,” the official added.

It was reported that ‘super coaches’ Pullela Gopichand, Bishweshwar Nandi and Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra could become a part of the group. 

The Tribune had spoken to a few leading voices in Indian sports regarding the potential members. Experts suggested that leading athletes, prominent industrialists and professionals from the business of sports promotion should become a part of it.