Ministry releases over Rs 3 crore for Olympic preparation

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry on Sunday said it has released over Rs three crore of a Rs 7.95 crore financial assistance meant for the 45 medal prospects for this year`s London Olympics.

The gymnasts were the biggest beneficiaries getting Rs 89.91 lakh from the funds released so far. "For imparting customised training to elite athletes, who are medal prospects in the forthcoming London Olympics 2012 and other major international sports events, the Sports Ministry has sanctioned financial assistance worth Rs 7.95 crore plus air fare, etc, from the National Sports Development Fund to the 45 sportspersons and 12 coaches and support staff under Operation Excellence 2012," the Sports Ministry said in a statement. "Out of this, Rs 3.89 crore has already been released to the sportspersons," it added. The assistance sanctioned is for exposure and training abroad, engagement of personal coaches (both foreign and Indian), scientific back-up in terms of sports psychologists, physiotherapists and masseurs. PTI