India to bid for 2012 Olympics

Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday asked the Indian Olympic Association to bid for the 2012 Olympics and said the bid will have the full support of the government.

She made the announcement in Delhi after the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Sports Authority of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding to identify opportunities to increase partnership between the Indian industry and sports administration.

"The preparation for bidding for the Olympics starts today," Bharti announced, calling it (the signing of MoU) "a historic moment and path breaking excercise in Indian sports".

"The MoU for a period of three years, up to March 31, 2005, is aimed at facilitating regular interaction between government, sports administrators and industry to promote sports in India. It is specifically aimed at supplementing SAI's efforts in preparing Indian teams for participation in Commonweath and Asian Games in 2002 and the 2004 Olympics," the minister said.

Bharti said the finances raised by FICCI and SAI can go towards procuring world class sports equipment for various disciplines, establishment of sports, science facilities, acquiring services of international experts and in organising international competitions in India or facilitating the participation of sportspersons in competitions abroad.

The immediate action under the MoU, signed by SAI Director General Shekhar Dutt and FICCI president R S Lodha, will include identifying medal hopefuls and help industry support to supplement their training needs by either getting experts to India or sending the identified players abroad.

It aims to procure the latest sports training equipment for various disciplines and to provide sports science back-up by funding Indian and foreign sports psychologists, physiologists, trainers, coaches, recovery persons and dieticians.

Action will also be taken to help in the prevention of injuries and provide assistance in rehabilitation of injured sportspersons and help in the creation of a data bank and publication of sports journals, giving the latest information on development in sports.

On the ocassion, the minister also stressed on government-private partnership in promoting sports in the country saying, "It is vital that the corporate sector chips in by collaborating with the central government and SAI to promote sports excellence in India.

"If we can manage to channelise private funding, management expertise and marketing of sports development schemes, I am sure India will make giant strides in the field.