The Hindu : Sport : A fillip to Indian sports

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Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008
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A fillip to Indian sports

NEW DELHI: Indian sports received a boost on Monday with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announcing a grant of 3.6 million pounds under the ‘International Inspiration’ programme in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for developing athletes for Olympics and Paralympics.

The grant is part of the promise that Britain made to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Singapore where London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

The project, with a grant of nine million pounds to be spread over five developing countries, will aim at engaging and inspiring the youth of the world through sport.

The initiative has already started in the other four short-listed countries, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Palau and Zambia.

“International Inspiration will use the power of sport to transform the lives of millions of children and young people in schools and communities in countries across the globe,” said Mr. Brown at a function at the Delhi University ground.

“India is one of the greatest sporting nations in the world and as we prepare to hold the Olympics in London before which New Delhi hosts the 2010 Commonwealth Games here, this initiative will help strengthen our sporting ties,” said Mr. Brown.

“It is a programme of which I am immensely proud of,” he added. The initiative is targeted primarily at the rural areas with the aim of providing children with sporting facilities and coaching staff.

The programme will work closely with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports besides the National Sports Federations and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). — Principal Correspondent

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