The Sports Ministry said it was shocked over media reports on the apathetic treatment of differently-abled athletes participating in 15th National Para-Athletic championship at Ghaziabad.

The athletes, according to reports are being made to stay at a partially constructed building and are sleeping on the floor. Also, there is lack of functional toilets and drinking water.

Reacting to the report, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said it is “shocked and deeply saddened at the gross apathy and negligence shown by the organisers… wherein the participating athletes have been deprived of even the minimum facilities expected at a national sports event. “

 

It said organising national championships at regular intervals is a core function and responsibility of each and every National Sports Federation, and they are expected to conduct the event in a professional manner, maintaining at least the minimum standards expected of an event being held at the national level.

 

“The Ministry is looking into the particular incident that has occurred at Ghaziabad and, if required, will not hesitate in issuing a comprehensive advisory or guidelines stipulating minimum standards that need to be maintained in terms of boarding, lodging and other facilities to be made available to athletes participating in a national championships so that such incidents do not repeat in future,” it said in a statement.

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