New Delhi, September 1, 2009:
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has approved grant of Rs. 110 crore to the Government of Kerala for the conduct of 35th National Games. The grant sanctioned by the ministry would be utilized to upgrade the existing sports infrastructure, laying and development of playing surfaces and procurement of sports equipments, conduct of National Games including opening and closing ceremonies.
The games would be the last major domestic event before Commonwealth Games, 2010 and will be a curtain raiser to CWG 2010 and it will be the basis of selecting the national teams that will represent the country at CWG 2010.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has allotted 35th National Games to Kerala, which are scheduled to be held in May 2010. Government of Kerala has initially requested the Government of India for central assistance, at least 50 per cent of the total projected requirement of about Rs. 600 crore for creation of sports infrastructure and conduct of 35th National Games 2010.
In the course of meetings with Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and officers of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of Kerala was advised to keep Greenfield projects to a bare minimum, especially in view of the limited time of available before the Games.
In May 2009, a Central team, led by Joint Secretary (Sports), Department of Sports and consisting of representatives from Planning Commission, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Indian Olympic Association (IOA), visited Kerala to evaluate the proposal for conduct of 35th National Games to be held in May 2010.
Based on interactions with the Central Team, the Government of Kerala submitted a revised proposal of Rs 220 crore. The Central Team recommended that since it may not be possible for the State Government to bear the entire cost of Rs 220 crore from its own resources because of resource constraint, Planning Commission may consider Additional Central Allocation (ACA) of Rs. 110 crore (50 per cent) of the project cost to Kerala for hosting 35th National Games.
Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports also took up the matter with Prime Minister and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission for giving a grant of Rs. 110 crore to Kerala.
Source: Press release from Union Sports Ministry
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