Target Olympic Podium Scheme | UPSC
HEADLINES:
94 athletes included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) of Ministry of YAS: Sh. KirenRijiju
WHY IN NEWS:
At present, 94 athletes are included in the TOPS.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Sports : Schemes
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS go through aim , significance and the committee .
For MAINS what are the real hurdles faced by Athletes in day to day life ? Have you met them ever ? Drop down your comments below .
ISSUE:
TARGET OLYMPIC PODIUM SCHEME
- The scheme is fully functional for probable athletes identified for the Tokyo-2021,Paris-2024 and Los Angles-2028 Olympic Games.
- The scheme was revamped in April 2018 to have a technical support team for managing the TOPS athletes.
OBJECTIVE
- The Target Olympic Podium Scheme is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports .
- The scheme is an attempt to provide assistance to India’s top athletes.
- The Scheme looks to add a premium to the preparations of these athletes so that they can win Olympic medals.
- The idea of the Scheme is to also keep an eye in the future and fund a Developmental Group of Athletes .
HIGH PRIORITY SPORTS IDENTIFIED
- Presently, nine sports disciplines have been identified viz.,
HISTORY OF THE SCHEME
- Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS or TOP Scheme) was established in September 2014.
- The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is responsible for appointment of TOPS members.
- The total members of the committee are to be decided by MYAS.
- TOPS constitution does not stipulate minimum/maximum members for the committee.
RECENT SUCCESS
- The TOPS sponsored athletes gained relative success at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
- P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik captured silver and bronze in Badminton and Wrestling respectively at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- The recent success of the Commonwealth Games emphasized the efficacy of the Scheme.
- Out of the 70 athletes who won medals at the CWG, 47 of them were supported under the TOP Scheme.
MISSION OLYMPIC CELL (MOC)
- The Mission Olympic Cell is a dedicated body created to assist the athletes who are selected under the TOP Scheme.
- The idea of the MOC is to debate, discuss and decide the processes and methods so that the athlete receives best assistance.
- The MOC also focuses on selection, exclusion and retention of athletes, coaches, training institutes that can receive TOPS assistance.
FUNCTIONS OF MOC
- To approve customized programs for athletes chosen under the TOP Scheme.
- To recommend financial disbursement for the customized programs.
- To support, monitor and review progress of athletes in accordance with the training programs.
- To set a regular reporting structure on the athletes’ training program.
- To take decisions on sudden and unanticipated requirements/needs of athletes.
- To communicate regularly with the athletes on their progress, requirements and perspectives
- To engage implementation partner agencies to carry out/execute any or all the above functions.
- To ensure documentation/contractual obligations of beneficiaries.
- To deliver sponsor/commercial partner/media commitment under the NSDF TOP Scheme
SCHEME OF ASSISTANCE
- Over and above what is planned under the Annual Calendar of Training and Competition (ACTC).
ASSISTANCE TO ATHLETE
(a) Customized training under reputed coaches at institutes having world-class facilities.
(b) Participation in international competition.
(c) Purchase of equipment.
(d) Services of support staff/personnel like Physical Trainer, Sports Psychologist, Mental Trainer and Physiotherapist etc.
(e) Any other support specific to the sport discipline.
(f) Out-of-pocket allowance of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees fifty thousand only) a month to the athletes as an incentive
SELECTION AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
- The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) conducts a meeting every week in order to evaluate the proposals of the athletes.
- The Committee is also responsible for periodically conducting review of athlete’s progress and performances.
- Based on the Committee’s recommendation, athletes may be included, retained or excluded from the TOP Scheme.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which covers the junior and sub-junior athletes also
- The sportspersons who fail to achieve the targets despite providing additional support and adequate time are dropped from the scheme.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Target Olympic Podium Scheme | UPSC
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