Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju yesterday said that the Government has made various policy changes and has taken initiatives to encourage and support sports persons and the sporting community even after they retire.

Addressing the 10th Global Sports Summit, TURF 2020, organised by FICCI, Rijiju said, “We are also starting 1,000 Khelo India small centres across the country that will help retired sports persons get employment or some role in shaping the sports culture of the country.”

“When a sports person suffers, it discourages generations. The Government is also ensuring that the prize money, financial support from the Government reaches the athletes and the designated beneficiaries uninterrupted.”

The Minister noted that India has huge potential where sports is concerned but potential alone has no meaning unless utilised and channelised in the right way.

“We must make citizens pro-sports and pro-fitness; we cannot talk about a prosperous India with citizens being unfit. We cannot talk about a sporting culture without first creating success in the sporting arena,” Rijiju said.

He urged industry, business and corporate houses to come together with the Govt. in helping create a sporting obsessive society.