New Delhi: The 'Sports University' Bill was tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Monday with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserting that it is aimed at getting more medals than China in the Olympics.
The Bill was passed by the House with a voice vote. Participating in a discussion on the bill, the chief minister said that the political leaders and bureaucrats will not have a say in the functioning of the proposed Sports University. Professionals will run it instead, he said.
He said the sports university will help India overtake China in less time than it took the neighbouring country to dominate the global sports arena.
He said although the Delhi youth will be given priority in admissions to the proposed university, talented youth and sportsperson from all parts of the country will also be provided with the opportunity at the institution.
"This university will prove to be the 'Mecca' of all sportspersons of the country and relieve every patriot of the pain they feel when India fails to win medals at international events and the Olympic," the chief minister said.
Commenting on the current scenario, Kejriwal said although India and its people including youth are the best in the world, the government and system fail to support talent.
"As soon as a sports talent is spotted, the entire system gets down to suppress it. There is no support from the government or the system," he complained.
Talking to media persons Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said: "The Delhi government has decided to open a sports university because a lot of youngsters who are good players and have been winning the competitions at national and international level are unable to concentrate on their studies due to sports and after a certain age if they want to do a job, then they cannot get a job because they do not have a good degree. Keeping these things in mind, the Delhi Government has introduced a bill in Vidhan Sabha for the Sports University. "
