IOC steps in to support Indian athlete Shiva Keshavan

New Delhi, February 17, 2013: Reigning Luge Asian Champion, Shiva Keshavan, who has been training in Europe to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games after retaining his Asian title and setting a new continental record, may have lost out on his chance to participate in Sochi Games, under the current state of apathy by the Government of India. However, that will not be the case as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stepped in to ensure that Shiva gets to travel and participate in the Olympic test event and World Cup final, a mandatory race for qualifying for the apex sporting event which will be held in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

The sorry state of affairs had led Shiva Keshavan's Coach, Yann Fricheteau, a former Olympian and earlier French National Olympic Coach to quit this year due to the non-payment of his salary by the Government under the NSDF Scheme for sportspersons. The Government had earlier also refused to fund Shiva's participation in the World Cups and the Asian Championships, where Shiva retained the Gold for the second consecutive time for India.

However thanks to a last minute effort, India's Winter Olympic hopes are still alive as the IOC has granted Shiva the prestigious Olympic Solidarity Scholarship upon the recommendation of India's IOC member, Randhir Singh. This is the first time that an athlete has been directly supported by the IOC, as it is generally the prerogative of the Sports Ministry and the NOC of each country to bear the costs of national teams participating in international competitions. Earlier last year, the IOC had suspended the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which had caused huge embarrassment in the national and international sports fraternity.

"It is already challenging enough to compete against the world's best athletes without having to worry about how I am going to pay for a place sleep and to eat. Last month, despite the personal assurance from the Sports Minister, the NSDF released a small part of the required budget (less than 5%).

I am grateful to the IOC for their support which will enable me to travel for the Olympic test event and Qualify for the 2014 Games. I am also hopeful that the Sports Minister will ensure that the basic training costs are borne by the Government, and not personally by the athletes who are already giving their all to represent the nation,” said a partly relieved Shiva from Sochi.

Press release

45th Luge season to kick off with 31 nations in Innsbruck-Igls

Innsbruck-Igls (Austria), November 20, 2012: The luge World Cup series is heading into its 45th season. The traditional season opener of the Viessmann Luge World Cup will be staged on the Olympic track in Innsbruck-Igls (Austria). Innsbruck hosted 2 Olympic Games, in 1964 and in 1976.

A total of 31 nations and 160 sleds have entered the first event of the season to be held on November 24 and 25.

The World Cup Finals’ qualifiers will be held on Friday the 23rd where all the participants will compete to grab a spot in the Top 30, who will further compete in the final race on Sunday.

Among the athletes present are current Olympic medalists, Felix Loch (Gold, Men’s Singles) and David Moeller (Silver, Men’s Singles) of Germany, Armin Zoeggeler of Italy (Bronze, Men’s singles), Tatjana Huefner of Germany (Gold, Women’s singles) and Andreas & Wolfgang Linger of Austria (Gold, Men’s Doubles).

Asian Champion Shiva Keshavan has been training on the track this week and will be representing India in this pre-Olympic year, made possible by sponsorships from MTS, Coca Cola India and Olympic Gold Quest.

“I am aiming to be in the Top 30 and compete in the World Cup Finals on Sunday. We are experimenting with some equipment and it will be interesting how it works on race ice. I will have to make up for my tail ending start number as I did not take part in the last seasons’ World Cups due to lack of Government support, I am still hoping for this to change in the near future”, says Shiva from Innsbruck.

Press release