The policy for bidding of international events has undergone a significant change under Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore when he declared that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) or any National Sports Federation (NSF) has to seek approval from the Ministry before biding for hosting events like World Cups, World Championships, Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games or Asian Games. Bidding without informing the Sports Ministry can land the IOA or NSFs in trouble. The Ministry can even red-flag the event in spite of India winning the hosting rights.
The IOA and NSFs has to first submit a proposal including name of the event along with its format and duration; detailed break-up of the budget proposed; financial assistance to be provided by the state government/host city; funding from commercial rights, broadcasting rights etc.; availability of infrastructure and details of logistic arrangements.”
“While seeking approval of the ministry to bid, they should submit an approximate figure of the financial assistance which could be sought from the government. Not seeking the NOC/approval of the Ministry would not be appropriate at all since any view regarding not holding the Games would cause a great deal of embarrassment to all concerned,” stated the Ministry in a press release.
The Ministry has further stated that such a step was taken because organizing such events involve huge expenditure, infrastructure development and security arrangement which sometime becomes difficult for the Ministry to arrange.
