After dismal Rio show, PM forms task force to plan for next three Olympics

It will come up with strategy for facilities, training and selection

August 27, 2016 01:58 am | Updated December 04, 2021 11:01 pm IST - NEW DELHI:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with the Indian contingent for Rio Olympics during their send-off in New Delhi. File Photo: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with the Indian contingent for Rio Olympics during their send-off in New Delhi. File Photo: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the setting up of a task force which will help to plan for the “effective participation” of Indian sportspersons in the next three Olympics, to be held in 2020, 2024 and 2028.

He made the announcement at the monthly meeting of the Union Council of Ministers and said the structure of the task force would be in place in the next few days. According to official sources who spoke to The Hindu , Mr. Modi made the announcement as soon as the meeting convened.

“The task force will prepare an overall strategy for facilities, training, selection procedures and other related matters…,” officials said, quoting Mr. Modi.

“The government will look at in-house and outside experts for this task force,” they said.

India had to content itself with two medals in the Rio Olympics, although a larger number of sportspersons qualified for the 2016 Games than for the previous events. The medal tally, however, came down from six in London Olympics of 2012 to just two.

“Mr. Modi wants the task force in place with a very long-term plan for three Olympics, because he wants to break the myopia with regard to training for a premier sporting event like the Olympics. He is very clear that whatever is required in terms of sports infrastructure from the government is provided well in time. It is clear to him that champions are reared in generational terms,” said an official.

Mr. Modi had asked for a report on the doping charges against wrestler Narsingh Yadav, and was disturbed by some of the controversies that came up in relation to the Indian contingent in Rio during the course of the Games.

Top News Today

Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.