Indian participants in the London Olympics can look forward to flourishing professionally whether they win a medal or not with the Sports Ministry deciding to offer them direct recruitment as coaches in the Sports Authority of India.

“Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Ajay Maken has announced that the Government has decided to offer all Olympians — sportspersons who have qualified and represented the country in Olympics, present as well as in the past, direct recruitment as coaches, equivalent to Group ‘B’ Officers, in the Sports Authority of India (SAI),” the Ministry said in a statement.

Mr Maken made this announcement at the reception organised by the Indian High Commission at India House for the Indian Olympic Team in London yesterday.

Mr Maken hoped that this coupled with the recent decision to provide three out of turn promotions to sportspersons working in Government Organisations and Public Sector Undertakings would serve as “motivation for our contingent to perform well with the assurance of a life time job to bank upon.”

Elaborating further, the Minister said the coaches recruited will be provided on the job training even as they will continue with their sports training so long as they active sportspersons.

“The NIS Patiala will provide them with a Diploma in sports coaching as a part of their training, before they start to take up coaching assignment. Direct recruitment as coaches would entail that they are not required to appear in any written examination or meet any educational or professional qualification etc,” Mr Maken said.

Mr Maken said their pay-scales would be equivalent to an Assistant Commissioner of Police and they would also get quick promotions based on their performance.

“In India, there is so much of excitement and expectation from the Olympic contingent. For the first time, India is represented by 81-strong contingent. This is the biggest reason for such expectations. Last time the Indian contingent was 56-member strong,” Mr Maken said.

It has been decided to fill up more than 400 vacancies, in the coaches’ cadre in phases. In the first phase process of recruitment of 200 coaches is being initiated.

“Recruitment of players of highest calibre in SAI as coaches will not only provide a quality coaching cadre for SAI but will also provide long term economic security to sportspersons, provide them lifetime opportunity to remain connected with their passion for sports and motivate them to pursue sports will full dedication.

“The advertisement for the recruitment of coaches in SAI including the special provision for recruitment of Olympians will be issued shortly.”

Government had recently also decided to provide athletes winning medals in International competitions with an out of turn promotion in their jobs with various government bodies and public sector undertakings.

They would be entitled to three such promotions, every time they win a medal. Of the 83 athletes participating in Olympics this time, 64 are serving in various government organisations, and can avail of this opportunity by winning a medal. This will also be applicable to differently disabled sportspersons.

Mr Maken said government had spent about Rs 200 crore during the last one year for training the athletes.

Welcoming the Indian Olympic Team, the High Commissioner of India, Mr Jaimini Bhagwati wished “all athletes particularly Indian athletes and other sportsmen and women success in the Olympics.”

Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Gulam Noon, founder chairman of Noon Products, Mr Virendra Sharma, MP, Ms Seema Malhotra, MP were among those who attended the reception.

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