Bhopal: After being away for almost six months, the national and international athletes of Madhya Pradesh will join their academies run by the sports department, from Monday.
To ensure that social distancing and other safety norms are followed, the sports department has allowed only one athlete per room. As many as 100 of the 552 athletes will join the academy next week. Strength of the academies has been reduced by 30% for safety of all. There are around 18 sports academies for which accommodation is available at the Tatya Tope Stadium. Sports minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia has instructed officials to strictly follow the Covid norms. The athletes will be allowed to join in a phased manner. In the first batch, players of shooting, hockey, among others will be allowed.
As per officials, the players in the first batch are those who have to participate in championships which will be scheduled comparatively earlier.
Biggest challenge for the sports department was to accommodate athletes in the sports academies as per the social distancing. “This could be possible only when strength of athletes brought down to half of the existing size,” said a senior official.
Every year the department discontinues practice of the athletes if they fail to perform according to the set standards. “On average this has been a small percentage of the athletes. This year it may go high as the standards will be tougher,” said another official.
With a vision to achieve excellence in sports and to facilitate the talented sports-athletes of the state, department of sports and youth welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh envisioned sports excellence academies in 2006.
Madhya Pradesh sports academies are uniquely positioned to help athletes accomplish their dreams, while nurturing the importance of life skills parallel with academics.