The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) is close to achieving the status of a National Sports Federation after years of wait, the officials claimed today, but even then the promoters of Formula One in the country should not hope for any financial support, the government clarified.
FMSCI has long been trying to get recognition as a NSF and its vice-president R K Dhawan says they recently got a verbal commitment from the ministry that upon bringing minor changes in their constitution the NSF status can be granted to them.
The motorsport body is willing to amend its Memorandum of Article and will soon call a General Body Meeting to ratify the changes, Dhawan said.
"The ministry wants that we comply with the age and tenure guidelines, which we are willing and it also wants that any government servant in the Federation should not get more than one term. Director (Sports) gave us a verbal commitment that we can get recognition as NSF after bringing changes," Dhawan told PTI.
FMSCI has never employed a government official in its ranks but ministry wants them to have such a provision by adding a clause to its constitution.
Sports Secretary Ajit Sharan said the matter has not reached him yet but with or without recognition to FMSCI, financial support cannot be extended to F1 promoters, the Jaypee Group.
Most venues on the current F1 calendar are backed by their respective governments and it includes the race licensing fee which runs in millions of dollars.
