Sports ministry slam IOA funding delegates for Asiad
18 Sept 2014 3:45 AM IST
Livid with the Indian Olympic Association for sponsoring the Asian Games ‘junket’ of sports federation officials, the sports ministry has said the IOA could have better spent the money in ensuring ‘good governance’ and ‘transparency’.
On September 9, the IOA had written to 35 National Sports Federations (NSF) to nominate one delegate each for the Games beginning on Friday for the largesse costing Rs 1.25 lakh per official, covering air travel and stay for seven nights.
‘Why should IOA fund officials who have no work and are going on a paid holiday? They should rather use the money for sports promotion and athletes. It is pointless to spend on delegates who have no work there,’ said a sports ministry official.
Following IOA’s invitation, the Cycling Federation of India had questionably recommended names of Congress MP from Rohtak, Deepinder Hooda, and his wife. The Olympic body’s decision to take care of delegates comes after the ministry pruned India’s Asian Games contingent from 942 athletes and officials to 679 members. The ministry is also unhappy about IOA and NSFs not paying heed to its demand for submitting the details of expenses on officials during the July 23-Aug 3 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The ministry asked for the information following the arrest of two officials in Glasgow, including the IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta.
On September 9, the IOA had written to 35 National Sports Federations (NSF) to nominate one delegate each for the Games beginning on Friday for the largesse costing Rs 1.25 lakh per official, covering air travel and stay for seven nights.
‘Why should IOA fund officials who have no work and are going on a paid holiday? They should rather use the money for sports promotion and athletes. It is pointless to spend on delegates who have no work there,’ said a sports ministry official.
Following IOA’s invitation, the Cycling Federation of India had questionably recommended names of Congress MP from Rohtak, Deepinder Hooda, and his wife. The Olympic body’s decision to take care of delegates comes after the ministry pruned India’s Asian Games contingent from 942 athletes and officials to 679 members. The ministry is also unhappy about IOA and NSFs not paying heed to its demand for submitting the details of expenses on officials during the July 23-Aug 3 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The ministry asked for the information following the arrest of two officials in Glasgow, including the IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta.
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