The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports secretary Ajit M Sharan today said there should be a larger role of the private sector in the development of sports in the country.
"There is need for channelising more funds for creating sports infrastructure, training of potential sportspersons and in engaging world class coaches," said Sharan while addressing the CII National Conference on Business of Sports held here.
"In this regard, the Sports Ministry will put up in the website the profiles of sports events and sportspersons who could be funded directly by the private sector under the National Sports Development Fund Scheme," he added.
The secretary said while the sports management companies and consulting organisations are already being increasingly engaged on a continuous basis for promotional activities, he felt their "role will increase in the coming days".
At the event, one of the recommendations was to form a Joint Task Force among Government, Industry and sportspersons, and Sharan said the government would be consulting the private sector and take their help in bringing in new momentum in the sports eco system in the country.
"The National Sports Federations (NSFs) also have a greater role in sports promotion," he said.
On the under-utilisation of stadia built during major sports event, the secretary said that all over the world, despite the best legacy planning, stadia cannot be used 365 days a year.
"(We) want corporates to use the excellent facilities available with the stadia for the meetings. Also, the government is working out various schemes for encouraging peoples' connect for these stadia by creating facilities for jogging, walking, cycling etc., alongside these places," he said.
