Prize money doubled in TN to promote sports

In a major move to promote sports, the Tamil Nadu government announced a huge jump in prize money for medal winners in international and national sports events on Tuesday and set up a 'Centre of Excellence in Sports' to encourage budding sports stars.

Making a suo motu statement in the assembly, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said players from the state who win gold in the Olympics would get Rs. 2 crore as prize money, as against Rs. 1 crore at present.

Similarly, prize money for those winning silver and bronze medals would be Rs. 1 crore and Rs. 50 lakh respectively as against Rs. 50 lakh and Rs. 25 lakh given earlier.

She said gold medal winners in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games will get Rs. 50 lakh. Silver and Bronze medallists would get Rs. 30 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh. They were earlier getting Rs. 20 lakh, Rs. 15 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals respectively.

The Chief Minister said the prize money for gold medal winners in South Asian and National Games has been hiked to Rs. 5 lakh from the present Rs. 1 lakh. While Silver medallists would get Rs. 3 lakh, bronze medal winners would get Rs. 2 lakh, she said, adding these winners were earlier getting Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 10,000.

She said the proposed 'Centre of Excellence in Sports' would select 25 boys and 25 girls in the 10-14 age group and impart scientific training to them.

They would be given accommodation, sports equipment, modern gymnasium, training and assistance to participate in sports events abroad, she said, adding these children would also receive education in the best schools in Chennai.