Master plan prepared to score big in sports

KATHMANDU, Aug 9: The Ministry of Youth and Sports has prepared a 15-year master plan in a bid to boost up the country’s sagging sports sector. The master plan is all set for implementation from this year.

The Ministry has come up with a new master plan realizing the lack of vision, long-term goals and a well-organized system for the development of sports sector in a strategic manner as per the letter and main spirit of the slogan – Sports for Health, Sports for the Nation – determined in the 13th National Plan (2013 -2016).

Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Bahadur Sunar (Bishwakarma) said the master plan has been prepared for enhanced development of the sports sector while confronting challenges like lack of physical infrastructures for organizing national and international sports competitions and of the private sector participation in this sector.

Goals have been set to complete works within five, ten and 15 years in the master plan. Thirty-three per cent women participation in sports within five years, 45 per cent within 10 years and 50 per cent within 15 years under wider and inclusive participation have been proposed in the master plan.

Similarly, the master plan has also set a plan to construct basic physical infrastructures of sports, arrangement of sports coach in all schools of the country within five years, at least one football ground and cricket ground of international standard in all provinces within 10 years and one multi-purpose sports village in each province within 15 years.

The ambitious goals including standing at third position in South Asian Games within five years, winning bronze medal in Olympic within 10 years, organizing Asian Cricket Tournament within 10 years and organizing Asian Games in Nepal within 15 years are in the master plan.

Maintaining sports discipline by strengthening sports-related organizations, encouragement to players, coaches and sports human resources, developing international relation for the development and expansion of sports and mobilizing cooperation are incorporated in the master plan.

The master plan has focused on encouraging people with disabilities to pursue sports by their choices and need. Local, national and international cooperation and collaboration will be sought in implementing the plan. Likewise, an economic strategy will be adopted to attract donor agencies and international aids for the plan through various means like Nepali embassies in foreign countries.

The government has a plan to construct a well-equipped sport village in each constituency, and has incentive and social security program for athletes and coaches like the management of social security by categorizing athletes and coaches contributing to national and international sports and ensuring their professional security. RSS