In its message to the National Sports Federations (NSFs), the ministry emphasized that the committee should include senior federation members, former international athletes, coaches, and “subject experts with demonstrated experience in global sports administration and diplomacy.” “The specifics of the Committee, including its structure and terms of reference, should be communicated to this Ministry within 30 days from the date of this advisory,” the Ministry’s letter to the NSFs, available to PTI, indicated.
This advisory followed shortly after Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao encouraged NSF officials to delegate daily operations to CEOs and concentrate on strengthening international ties for the benefit of India.
“You are the visionaries, not the administrators. Your organizations need professional administrators to manage daily tasks while you build networks with international bodies and strategize growth,” he stated in Ahmedabad last week.
“You should facilitate a process where our leadership knows the representatives of international bodies on a first-name basis,” he added while presenting the medal strategy for the next decade.
The ministry’s advisory indicated that the recommendation for forming such a committee was based on “the rapidly evolving global sports landscape.” This committee will be responsible for tracking developments in their respective International Federation (IF), Continental Federation (CF), including amendments in competition regulations and structures, as well as governance frameworks and elections.
“It will also be tasked with creating a ‘medium-term international cooperation plan’ encompassing bilateral/multilateral MoUs, joint training camps, exchange initiatives, knowledge-sharing programs, and hosting international competitions in India,” the letter explained.
The committee will liaise with international federations to ensure India’s prompt participation in the bidding processes.
Additionally, the committee will generate periodic reports for the Ministry, outlining collaborations that are either finalized or underway between the respective NSF and their international counterparts.
“These reports should highlight initiatives that improve performance pathways for Indian athletes and teams, including access to elite competitions, sparring sessions, and advanced sports science support abroad,” the letter noted.
Collaboration with global sports research and academic institutions for optimal training opportunities and sports science assistance for Indian athletes will also be included in the reports for this committee.
