The Hindu Business Line : BCCI rakes in more moolah than what Govt spends for other sports

THE cricket board - Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - that receives no support from the Government manages to generate more revenue than the Government's yearly allocations to all other sporting federations taken together.

Consider this: the Government has allocated a total of Rs 281.38 crore towards games and sports for 2004-2005, of which just Rs 50.31 crore is offered as assistance to various National Sports Federations including the ones supporting hockey, football, tennis and several others.

Compare this with the BCCI, which earned over Rs 73 crore last year and could mop up over Rs 300 crore a year if the ensuing court battle over the telecast rights of the cricket matches is resolved.

According to Budget estimates, a major portion of the year's allocations is given to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) amounting to Rs 144.89 crore.

The SAI spends most of its resources in maintaining sports infrastructure across the country and running coaching centres. The remaining portion of the funds is utilised for providing financial awards and assistance to sporting personalities.

"None of the other sporting bodies are cash rich like the cricket board. Most of them are cash-strapped and depend on Government for funds," said industry sources. They added that very few sports besides cricket receive support from the corporate world. While the Sahara India group is supporting Indian hockey, football was backed by the UB group.

"In fact, the Football Association is looking at getting a new sponsor after the tenure of the previous one came to an end," said sources. Most of the federations are dependent on the international federation who offer grants to them. The Indian Olympic Committee receives support from the International Olympic Committee.

According to officials in sports marketing companies, no other sport manages to attract the sponsorship like cricket. "In fact, it was very difficult for the Indian Olympic team to find a sponsor to back it. Sahara stepped in at the last minute," they said.