Dr Mandaviya was addressing the Sports Governance Conclave organised by the Government of India, in association with the Government of Gujarat and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad. The conclave was attended by representatives of National Sports Federations (NSFs), State Olympic Associations, and members of the IOA Executive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Addressing the gathering, the Minister outlined the Government\u2019s clear and uncompromising priorities for India\u2019s sports ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on governance reforms, competitive exposure, systematic talent identification and nurturing from grassroots to elite levels, strengthening the coaching ecosystem, and expanding private sector participation in sports infrastructure, academies, and leagues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOnce a decision is taken, the Government has demonstrated both political will and clarity of purpose in its implementation,\u201d he said, citing key initiatives such as the National Sports Governance Act (NSGA), Khelo Bharat Niti, reforms in ANSF norms, and improvements in coach recruitment systems.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Making the Government\u2019s position unequivocally clear, the Minister asserted that persistent issues within sports federations, including internal politics, corruption, unfair selection trials, injustice to athletes, governance disputes, and financial irregularities, must now come to an end. \u201cFor us, the athlete and the nation\u2019s reputation are paramount,\u201d he said, adding that while the Government respects the autonomy of federations, the same commitment to integrity, transparency, and athlete-centric governance must be demonstrated by all sporting bodies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He emphasised that the effective implementation of the NSGA would rest with the federations themselves and must ensure fair and timely elections, financial transparency, functional athlete commissions, ethics commissions, and strict compliance with prescribed governance norms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Calling for a professional and future-oriented approach, the Minister urged every federation to prepare a clear roadmap for the next 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. He stressed that sports bodies must be professionally run, with qualified CEOs, financial experts, marketing professionals, international-level coaches, and specialised operations teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dr. Mandaviya also announced that the Government would soon introduce key policy initiatives, including transparent and standardised selection trials, the \u201cOne Corporate, One Sport\u201d model, and enhanced athlete welfare packages.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Highlighting the significant public investment already being made in sports science, nutrition, injury management, and high-performance support, he called upon federations to match the Government\u2019s pace and ambition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reiterating India\u2019s long-term sporting vision, the Minister declared that achieving a Top-10 finish in the Olympic medal tally is a non-negotiable national goal, underlining the critical role of National Sports Federations and State Olympic Associations in realising this ambition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Highlighting the significant public investment already being made in sports science, nutrition, injury management, and high-performance support, he called upon federations to match the Government\u2019s pace and ambition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Describing the present phase as the 'golden period of Indian Sports', Dr. Mandaviya concluded with a strong message of accountability: \u201cHistory will remember what we achieve now, and it will not forgive what we fail to do.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n