The Board of Control for Cricket has decided to contribute Rs 2.5 crore towards preparations of Indian athletes for the Olympics while another Rs 7.5 crore will be given for marketing and promotion going into the Tokyo Olympics in the Apex Council meeting which took place on Sunday.
This contribution could go a long way and be considered as a big relief for the IOA as Olympic athletes face the challenging condition of training away from home as they seek to prepare before the Olympic games.
“The Apex Council met today and decided that while Rs 2.5 crore will be given for the athletes’ preparations, another Rs 7.5 crore will be used for marketing and promotional activities,” the source said ANI.
The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has accepted the men’s 65kg freestyle wrestler Bajrang Punia’s proposal to engage men’s U-23 World Champion Mirza Skhulukhia in the 70 kg class as an additional sparring partner in Vladikavkaz, Russia. He is also sparring David Baev, the 70 kg world champion from 2019, sanctioned at Rs 2.53 lakh. The government has spent over two crores on the wrestler in the Olympic cycle.
The MOC also sanctioned javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s proposal to train in their respective locations in Europe till July 25, before they leave for Tokyo to compete in the Olympic Games, as announced on Friday.
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been given the green light to begin training in Uppsala, Sweden from the 21st of June with the coach and Klaus Bartonietz and physiotherapist. He was allotted Rs. 34.87 Lakh.
Meanwhile, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) challenged the new regulations put in place by the Japanese government, which has Indian told athletes to not physically interact with anyone from another team, delegation, or country for three days on arrival.
IOA President Narinder Batra and Secretary-General Rajeev Mehta in a letter addressed to TOCOG [Tokyo Organising Committee] have opposed these “unfair and discriminatory” rules against Indian athletes.
Athletes are set to arrive only 5 days before the event which makes it even more challenging for Indian athletes as they will not be allowed to interact with any other athletes which could break their flow as they move into their peak mode for their respective events.
The pandemic continues to pose a challenge to all stakeholders of the event and only time will tell the true effect of this “new normal” of sporting events.