Kiren Rijiju: India lacks sports culture

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday lamented lack of "sports culture" in India. He, however, said the government is working to make the country a "sport powerhouse" in the coming days. The Union minister was in Goa to inaugurate five different indoor stadiums constructed for the upcoming National Games, scheduled to be held in October-November, 2020.

"We are trying to create the culture of sports in the country. Today, I was sharing this thought with officers also that we are a country which has not been able to exploit its sporting potential at the international level," the minister said, adding that there are just "few pockets of sports culture" in the country.

"Goa has good football culture like the Northeast and West Bengal. Barring this, India has not been able to develop sports culture. For Indians, sports is not a way of life, which is reality," he added.

Citing old texts, Rijiju said sports used to be part of the Indian way of life. "From the day one, our government tried to work out certain mechanisms so that India becomes a sporting powerhouse. The prime minister has constituted a Olympics Task Force committee. I have started taking decisions to have major changes and reforms within my ministry. You will see the results in times to come," he said.

Rijiju said people should know that the government alone cannot do much. "In some big international events that have happened in India, not even five per cent of stadiums get filled with spectators," he rued. The BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh further said money will get generated if people start watching various games.

"Many people say cricket gets money and other sports not. You start watching various games and money will come. If you play football match and there is a competition then money will start pouring in," he stated.

The minister said the government did not provide funds for cricket. "That game is flushed with money because of patronage from people," he added. "Businessmen will put money where people will watch. It is the people who create a sports culture. The government can only create a platform," he said. The minister said the Central government will ask each state and Union Territory to identify sports for their potential, for which "hundred per cent funding" will be provided.