Use money cleanly, introduce youth: Gill to NSFs

The Minister said the clamour for autonomy among the NSFs was understandable but they have to prove their efficiency as well.

“Ultimately, the Olympic movement and the sports federations have an important role to play in bringing India to the top on Olympic ladder. They have to make sure that the money is used cleanly and there is accountability,” he said at a seminar organised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The minister suggested that the federations can start the revamp by having a younger lot of technical and management staff. “We need younger people in the federations for handling management and technical aspects. Don’t look at me, I know I am an old man but you guys need to have younger staff, who can handle things swiftly and efficiently,” he quipped.

Gill lamented the poor state of affairs in hockey but felt the game would still be able to weather the current slump. “Hockey is a sentimental game. Even if India loses, we support the team,” he said.

Gill, however, sidestepped queries on whether IHF President K P S Gill, who has been at the helm for the past 14 years, would be asked to step down in the wake of the bribery scandal.

“We have a meeting on Monday where Mr Gill has been invited. Everything would be sorted out there,” he said. “Internal democracy is also very important in federations. They must make their functioning democratic and transparent,” he added.

Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi also called for a younger staff in the federations. “Young people can handle technical aspects better,” he explained.

However, Kalmadi’s insistence on remodelling the controversial sports policy was snubbed by Gill. “To my understanding sports policy means promoting sports like athletics which is the core of Olympic movement. We should have a girl on the podium in the Olympics …even a boy would do,” Gill joked.

“Besides this, football, hockey and volleyball are sports that can be played anywhere, anytime and by anyone. Promotion of these sports is very important.

“That is the sports policy I know about, the rest I can’t do anything about it until I know completely about it. As sports minister I have to promote sports and I will do that,” he said.

Kalmadi, meanwhile, urged Gill to give priority to – besides hockey – football and athletics. “Athletics is the mother of all sports and I urge the minister to give priority to it along with hockey and football,” he said.

Kalmadi also asked the corporate world to be more generous in supporting sports other than cricket. “Cricket is played by just 8-10 countries but Olympic sports are played all over. The industry should understand that sponsoring cricket has its advantages but sponsoring an Olympic medallist would enhance their brand image by several notches,” he said.