(a) whether there is shortage of coaches for various Games in the country ;
(b) if so, the steps Government proposes to take to employ expert coaches especially from aboard for the Commonwealth Games 2010; and
(c) the estimated cost of deploying coaches in various sports activities ?
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI SUNIL DUTT)
(a) No, Sir. There is a requirement for quality coaches in many disciplines for achieving excellence in international events.
(b) Government of India supplements the efforts of the National Sports Federation by engaging coaches from abroad in selected disciplines for training of the elite sports persons including sportspersons with medal prospects. Presently, foreign coaches have been engaged for various disciplines for Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to be held in 2006. For Commonwealth Games, 2010, assessment of training inputs including engagement of foreign coaches in various disciplines will be made after assessing and analyzing India`s performance in Commonwealth Games, 2006 and Asian Games, 2006.
(c) The estimated/approximate annual cost for deploying Indian coaches comes between Rs.2 lakhs to 3 lakhs per coach. A foreign coach costs approximately between US$ 2000-2500 per month in addition to free accommodation, travel and other facilities.