AP unveils new sports policy

Vijayawada: The Sports Policy 2024-2029 formulated by the Andhra Pradesh government lays emphasis on world-class infrastructure creation, identifying and promoting players from grassroots levels as also the enhancement of cash prizes for medal winners.

The state government rolled out the new sports policy through GO Ms 18.

A major highlight is the promise of the highest-ever cash prizes for medal winners at the Olympics and Paralympics (Summer and Winter) games. Gold medal winners would receive Rs 7 crore, silver medalists Rs 5 crore and bronze medalists Rs 3 crore.

Similarly, winners at the Asian Games will receive Rs 4 crore, Rs 2 crore, and Rs 1 crore for gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively. The policy also promises Rs 15 lakh for every sports person from AP participating in the Olympics and Rs 10 lakh for those participating in the Asian Games.

The new sports policy also proposes that players who secure gold, silver or bronze medals at the Olympics and Paralympics will be made eligible for Group 1 and Group 2 posts in government services under the meritorious sports quota.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) chairman Animini Ravi Naidu said the new policy has been designed in collaboration with players and sports associations to ensure that no stone is left unturned in transforming AP into a sports hub. He asserted that the new sports policy would act as a stimulus to develop sports infrastructure and unearth hidden sports talents in the state.

“Under the new sports policy, more emphasis will be laid on the adoption of players and games by corporates and leveraging private partnerships to develop world-class sports infrastructure. This will help engage more citizens in sports and games, as the cash-strapped SAAP is not in a position to build new infrastructure facilities on its own in the state,” Ravi Naidu explained.

The government envisions building a world-class sports city, developing Olympic-standard sporting facilities, and establishing a state-of-the-art sports university in Amaravati.

It also plans to establish National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) in Kakinada, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and other parts of the state with central government support. Subsequently, the government intends to develop indoor and outdoor stadiums, meeting national and international standards, at the regional level in Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Tirupati, as well as regional sports academies in Vizianagaram, Kakinada, Guntur, Kadapa, Kurnool and Nellore.

AP Soft Tennis Association chairman D Naveen Kumar said, “The provision of a 3 per cent horizontal reservation in direct recruitment across government departments, local bodies, PSUs and uniformed services such as the police, excise and forest departments for meritorious sportspersons, along with reserving 50 per cent of Grade III coaching positions in SAAP for national/international medallists, is a big boost for sportspersons. This will be done through recruitment by a selection board.”

This will create a significant impact in attracting more individuals to take up sports as a career in the future,” he stated.