K'taka govt asked to come up with sports policy

Bangalore, Apr 23 (UNI) The Karnataka Olympic Association (KOA) today demanded that the state government announce its sports policy on the lines of Andhra Pradesh and Haryana as it would help give impetus to sporting activities in the state.

Addressing newspersons here, Association President K Govindaraj said a formal request would be made to the state government in this regard and a Sports policy drafted by the KOA submitted for its perusal.

He said the National Youth Games would be held this year and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had agreed to hold the meet as early as possible. The government had already released some grants to the Sports and Youth Services Department for the purpose, he added.

Mr Govindaraj said the KOA had decided to bear the medical expenses of all deserving sports personalities, including those who have retired.

He urged the state government to enhance grants allocated for sports activities and provide jobs to sportspersons who had brought laurels to the state.

Mr Govindaraj also wanted the state government to do away with the Sports Authority of Karnataka as ''it is proving to be a White Elephant to the state exchequer and contributing nothing to sports activities.'' Instead the government could reconstitute the State Sports Council to get advise on sports matters, he suggested.

Earlier, at the KOA General Body meet, Mr Govindaraj was unanimously re-elected as Association President.

The other office bearers were T Anantharaju Secretary General, Cmde J P Carneiro IN (Retd), Mohan Raj, Dr R Munireddy, Radha Murthy, G N Sathyanarayana and R K Shetty (all Vice Presidents), Kempanarashimaiah and Sathnarayana (Joint Secretaries), Rajesh N Jagadale, Treasurer and seven Executive committee members.

UNI MV RG DH PM1641