IOA President PT Usha Supports Sports Bill, Says 'It Will Bring In Transparency'
Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha, who is also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, on Tuesday offered her unequivocal support to the National Sports Governance Bill, stating that it will end decades of 'stagnant status quo" and usher in 'transparency and accountability" in the country's sports administration.
During the discussion on the bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday, Usha praised its provisions, including the establishment of a National Sports Board (NSB) that will have overriding powers to recognise sports federations (NSFs). Affiliation to the NSB would be mandatory for access to central funds.
The bill also proposes the creation of a National Sports Tribunal to handle sports disputes and a National Sports Election Panel to oversee NSF elections.
'Today is a day of immense personal and national significance. I have long awaited this moment," Usha, seated alongside fellow nominated member Sudha Murthy, said in her address to the House.
She had opposed the bill last year, describing it as government interference and warning that India might face a ban from the International Olympic Committee. However, she revised her views after extensive consultations with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
'Let me take you back to 1984, I was just 20 when I missed an Olympic medal in Los Angeles. That day my heart broke… there was no comprehensive sports law to support the dreams we carried in our hearts.
'Since then, four decades have passed and nothing was done to address the stagnant status quo…Today the hope has transformed into action and legislation. It is a visionary and long-overdue bill," she said.
'This bill will usher in transparency, accountability, and gender parity. It will empower athletes and build confidence among sponsors and federations. It is about justice and fair play," she added.
Usha said the bill's focus on creating a structured administrative set-up will be beneficial for India's 2036 Olympics bid.
'This legislation comes at a time when India is dreaming big, aiming for its rightful share in the global sporting fraternity by hosting the 2036 Olympics. For Bharat, it is not just a bill, it is a clarion call for action," she said.
'This bill is a critical pillar of a grand vision. Let us see this as a moral promise, a promise that athletes will no longer be let down by an apathetic system. As someone who ran barefoot on clay tracks…I can say that this bill will change lives," she said.
She also supported the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, which reasserts the National Anti-Doping Agency's operational independence while establishing a National Anti-Doping Board to advise on procedural issues.
'It is through such effective legislation that we can bring a new culture of clean sports. This bill will illuminate the athletes' path with clarity," Usha said.
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