Management of Infrastructure, Equipment, Finance in Sports

Infrastructure is needed in all kinds of sport management which supply strength to whole managing process. The availability and standard of sporting infrastructure influences public participation and quality of sports. Therefore, in order to facilitate and encourage extensive participation, high standards and safety and improved performance, attention must be paid to the available sport infrastructure, The management of infrastructure involves facilities of an acceptable standard be established to allow for the development of a range of sports disciplines.

A proper system of management is established for the management and maintenance of sporting facilities. Government ensures the availability of recreational space at schools, communities, and housing developments. A special package to be provided to the private sector for the establishment of sporting infrastructure.

Equipments

Equipments are the next steps after infrastructure in the process of management. These include all kinds of methods, techniques and proper planning. It is the duty of the government and the various sporting bodies to provide training and development opportunities to be provided to sports practitioners. To attain these ideals, attention must be given to the development of our human resources. It is done through government which established a program for the provision of technical support of approved national sporting bodies on an agreed criterion.

Scholarships are provided for sports persons to allow for exposure at a higher level of performance and to encourage professional development through education. It provides development through education. It also includes training of officials to enhance their capacity to officiate and administer sporting activities.

Special attention given to acquiring and developing resource material such as manuals, coaching kits and electronic aids, which assist in improving knowledge and advancing the technical skills of sports persons, Programmes designed to expose national sporting representatives to specialized personnel development activities, which will assist in their overall development.

Finance and Personnel

Finance and sponsorship are vital requirements as with all other endeavors. The costs associated with sports continue to hinder its development and serves to discourage widespread participation.

Therefore, it is necessary to encourage greater financial support for sporting activities. The finances are managed with the help of the private sector and national sporting bodies which develop collaborative relationships which can realize the economic value and viability of sports. Incentives that encourage greater financial assistance for sports are offered to the private sector. Systems of assistance implemented to ensure the economic stability of rational sporting representatives.

Prioritization of allocation of resources for sports, necessary parts of finance and fund-raising programmes undertaken by National Sporting Bodies and affiliates which contribute to the financing of their activities, help in managing of finance. Identifying sporting disciplines and developing them as viable economic opportunities are also a part of finance management.

Sports Schemes

The Infrastructure, Equipment, Finance and the Personnel requirements of the various sporting bodies are looked after by the bodies itself and with the help of the Central and state governments. Thereby the various schemes developed by the Government of India or by International authorities to assist sports activities are:

(a) International Cooperation:

International Corporation in the field of sports and physical education took a big leap forward, providing the much needed opportunities of foreign exposure to national teams and coaching/training abroad. The Government of India procured the services of international coaches/sports persons by way of bilateral agreements under cultural exchange programmes/sports protocols with the concerned countries. The foreign coaches are paid salaries, medical expenses, air-fare, etc., during their contract/employment in India.

(b) UNV:

United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Scheme is a scheme of UNDP operating throughout the world. It seeks to accelerate the development of under developed countries by providing skilled manpower of developed/developing countries at low costs. India has been participating in it since its inception in 1971. India also contributes financially to the Special Voluntary Fund of UNDP and its present annual contribution is US dollar 15000. The 5th of December is celebrated as the International Volunteers Day

The scheme also envisages posting of social service volunteers among the countries of Asia and the Pacific region to work at grass-root level to assist in the local self-help efforts of rural areas and urban slums in participating countries. This is known as UNV (DDS-domestic Development Service) Scheme.

(c) RSP:

The scheme of Rural Sports Programme was launched in 1970-71 and is being operated by SAI. The scheme lays emphasis on arranging tournaments in rural areas and at the block, district, state and national levels. It also includes special component for the North- Eastern Region, i.e., North Eastern Sports Festival, for the organisation of State/UT levels tournaments, an assistance of Rs. 30,000 per discipline is given to the State governments and Rs. 15,000 per discipline to the Union Territories.

Financial assistance of Rs. Two lakh per discipline is made available to SAI for organising tournaments in various states by rotation. For North-Eastern Sports Festival, Rs. eight lakh is given to SAI for holding the tournaments annually. A provision of Rs. 4.50 crore has been made in the Ninth Plan.

(d) Grants for Games:

The Central Government was giving grants for laying of synthetic tracks and artificial surfaces for hockey and other synthetic surfaces for volleyball, basketball, tennis, etc. With a number of synthetic surfaces having come up backed by financing from State governments, local bodies, etc., the Central government has now decided to concentrate only on hockey turfs and athletics tracks. Accordingly the Central assistance for laying synthetic track/artificial hockey surfaces or replacement of old tracks/surfaces has been fixed for 50 per cent of the cost of Rs. One crore, ‘whichever is less.

(e) Grants for Promotion of Sports:

A scheme of grants for promotion of Sports in universities/ colleges was revised with effect from 22 June 1988. Tournaments in the disciplines of archery, yachting, kayaking and canoeing, etc., have been introduced; raising the number of disciplines, for prize money from 13 to 20. The Association of Indian Universities oversees organisation of coaching camps, sports competitions among college and university students and preparation of Indian university contingents for international competition. The university winning first 1 position in inter-university tournaments held throughout the year is awarded Maulanal Abul Kalam Azad Trophy by the President of India, besides a cash incentive of Rs. 1,00,000,

(f) Sport Councils:

The Central government supplements efforts of the State governments, State sports councils, etc., towards improving and creating infrastructural facilities for sports, Grants are given for construction of stadia, swimming pools, gymnasia, sports complexes, etc. Mostly, financial assistance is given on a sharing basis of 50: 50 between the Centre and the sponsoring agency, subject to specified limits, through concerned States/Union Territories. For hilly/tribal areas, the Central contribution is 75 per cent subject to a maximum of certain specified ceiling. Scope of this scheme has since been enlarged to assist the State governments in creation of State level sports complexes and Sports Project Development Area (SPDA). So far 16 such complexes, one each in Goa, Pune, Bhopal, Jaipur, Bhuneswar, j Chennai, Simla, Lucknow, Agartala, Nagaland, Manipur, Faridabad, Purnea, Gwalior, Patna and Jengging have been approved.

(g) Financial Assistance for Rural Schools:

Financial assistance is also given for development of basic sports facilities in rural schools. To begin with, one school will be selected in each block/taluka at a place other than district or subdivision headquarters and Central assistance up to rupees one lakh fifty thousand is given for purchase of consumable and non-consumable sports equipments and development, of playground.

(h) Assistance to Sport Persons:

An on-going scheme has been revised to provide assistance to promising sports persons. The selected sports persons holding national records in the priority disciplines will be provided a package of assistance up to Rs. five lakh per year for coaching, equipment, participation in national and international tournaments, etc., on a long term basis. The coaches, sports scientists and other sports persons would also be assisted for up gradation of their skill and assisting the promising sports persons for achieving excellence in international level.

(i) Assistance to Women:

India has now become a significant National Competition for women; financial assistance is given at the rate of Rs. 1,000 per block, Rs. 3,000 per district and Rs. 10,000 for State level tournament for larger States and Rs. 5,000 for smaller States.

Incentives and Awards National Welfare Fund

National Welfare Fund for sports-persons was creation in 1982 primarily to assists sports persons of yester years that are living in indigent circumstances. Financial support is generally in the form of a monthly pension up to Rs. 2,500. Lump-sum grants are also given for medical treatment. The sport persons suffering from grievous and fatal injuries in the course of participation in sports events during training are also helped.

Talent Search Scholarship

Sports Talent Search Scholarship scheme launched in 1970-71 has culminated in Sports Scholarship Scheme 1997. National level, State level and university/college level scholarships at the rate of Rs. 600, Rs. 750 per month respectively are given under the scheme.

Arjuna Award

The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961 as the highest national recognition conferred on distinguished sports persons. The award consists of a bronze statuette of Arjuna, a scroll, a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a ceremonial dress.

Dronacharya Award

Dronacharya Awards, instituted in 1985, are given to coaches who have trained sports persons or teams making outstanding achievements in the year for which the award is given and consistently have very good achievements to their credit for three preceding years. Provisions have been added to the scheme for considering those who have contributed their lifetime to raising the standards of sports coaches. It comprises a statuette, a scroll, ceremonial dress and a tie in addition to a cash prize of Rs. 75,000.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

Under this scheme an amount of Rs. one lakh is given as award for the most spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by an individual sports person or a team.

Special Award to Medal Winner in International Sports Events and their Coaches

To attract the young generation to take sports as a career and to encourage the outstanding sports persons for even higher achievements, special awards to medal winners of international sports events and their coaches were introduced in 1986. The amount of awards has recently been revised which ranges from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 75 lakh.

Pension to Meritorious Sports Persons

Under the scheme launched in 1994 pension is given to winners of medals in Olympic, World Cup and World Championship and Gold Medal in Asian and Commonwealth Games. While Olympic Games medalists of World Cup and World Championship are given Rs. 2,500 per month, the medalists of World Cup and World Championship and Gold medalists of Asian Games and Commonwealth Games get Rs. 2,000 as monthly pension. Pension is given on attaining the age of 30 years which continues till their lifetime.

Promotion of Sports in Schools

The scheme was launched in 1986 with the objectives of promoting sports in schools. It has been designed to generate interest in sports and games in school children and place greater emphasis on the organisation of tournaments at various levels. For organising State level tournaments, the State government is given Rs. Two lakh while for inter school tournaments they get Rs. 50,000 for one district.

Championship Awards

The department gives financial assistance to 59 recognized National Sports Federations for conducting National Sports Championship at sub-junior, junior and senior level at the rate of Rs. three lakh, Rs. two lakh and Rs. one lakh respectively. Financial assistance to priority and general category of sports disciplines is also provided for participation in international sports tournaments/ championships aboard and also for organising international tournaments in India.

Sports Development Fund

A National Sports Development Fund has been set up to mobilize financial resources from Government, corporate and private sector as well as individuals for promotion of sports. The Department had contributed Rs. two crores during 1998-99 and also made a provision of Rs. two crore during 1999-2000.