Code of Conduct for sports federations mooted

The Government on Saturday initiated a series of measures to streamline sporting activities in the country and proposed to frame a Code of Conduct for sports federations to ensure 'transparency' and 'accountability'.

"We are looking at a Code of Conduct for sports federations that can be implemented strictly," said Sports Minister Uma Bharti, after a day-long meeting of state sports ministers.

Bharti said the proposal was discussed at the meeting and every state agreed that such a code is necessary. She, however, did not disclose the details of the proposed Code of Conduct, saying she would make it public only after discussing it with the sports federations.

The minister said the government had persuaded the opposition to support a bill seeking to bring sports under the Concurrent List which had paved the way for its introduction in Parliament.

She said the Parliamentary Affairs minister has already been notified about the bill but was unsure whether it would be tabled in the ongoing Budget session.

The meeting also discussed the setting up of a sports academy in each state. The states have been asked to identify the discipline for which they would like to have the academy, the minister said.