Administration and Funding
Political responsibility for sport in India is with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which is headed by a cabinet minister and managed by National Sport Federations. Sports Authority of India the field arm of the Ministry, supports and nurtures talent in youth, and provides them with requisite infrastructure, equipment, coaching facilities and competition exposure. Dorabji Tata with the support of Dr.A.G.Noehren then Director of YMCA established the Indian Olympic Association in 1927. IOA is responsible for the Indian continent’s participation in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games (Outdoor-Indoor-Beach), and South Asian Games. Each Olympic and Non-Olympic Sport has a Federation at the National level.
The selection of the National teams is done by the respective National Federations and then recommend to IOA for official sponsorship for participation in the Games being conducted under the auspicious of the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Council of Asia, Commonwealth Games Federation, and SAG. A special feature of the Indian Olympic Association is that, the National Federations and the State Olympic Associations are affiliated/recognized to it. The main task of the State Olympic Associations is to Promote the Olympic Sport and to ensure coordination among the State Sports Associations. In 2010-11, total Budget for sports and physical education schemes is 3117.69 crore (US$570 million). Hockey, in which India has an impressive record with eight Olympic gold medals, is officially the national sport. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Arjuna Award are India's highest awards for achievements in sports, while the Dronacharya Award is awarded for excellence in coaching.
India has been criticized for neglecting women in sports, as depicted in "Chak de India" where women's sports associations are under-sponsored and out of funds.
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