New Delhi: Living up to its promise to share the sponsor’s money with qualified sportspersons for the Olympics, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has paid advance installment of Rs one lakh to the hockey players who left for European tour on their way to London.
“All the qualified athletes will be paid Rs one lakh in advance and rest will be given to them later IOA Acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra said here today adding “each athlete going to London will get between Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 Lakhs from IOA”:
He made it clear that in case IOA gets more sponsors before the Games, that money will also be shared between the sportspersons.
Malhotra said that it is a matter of pride that India will send its largest ever Olympic contingent this time. ”So far 82 sports persons from 13 disciplines have made the cut and one or two more athletes are likely to qualify”.
“All these sportspersons have qualified as per the norms set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and majority of them made the cut while taking part in the International competitions”.
He said it will not be prudent on his part to single out particular sportsperson(s) as medal winning prospect because “for me the whole contingent is IOA’s family and I am confident everybody will give its best”.
“It is every sportsperson’s dream to participate in the Olympics and now “those who have got the chance should come up to the expectations of the countrymen”.
The IOA acting president said this time all the sportspersons have been provided with best of training and facilities. They have had enough of International exposure. Most of the athletes are training abroad and will directly fly to London from their places of training.
Indian Sports News Network