Olympians Association of India launched
Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
Imphal, July 04 2016:
In the presence of sporting
legends, the Olympians
Association of India (OAI) was
launched on Monday with an
aim to look after the welfare of
former and current athletes
from across the country.
It is a representative body
of Olympians in India.
The first and only non-
profit organisation by
Olympians for Olympians in
India, the OAI is directly af-
filiated to the World
Olympians Association
(WOA) under the Interna-
tional Olympic Committee.
The OAI proposes to look
after the welfare of former
and current Olympians
through their careers and be-
yond and has been founded
by acclaimed Olympians
Shiva Keshavan (luge), Viren
Rasquinha (hockey), Malav
Shroff (sailing), Adille
Sumariwalla (athletics),
Ashwini Nachappa (athletics),
Saina Nehwal (badminton),
Hakimuddin Habibulla
(swimming) and MC Mary
Kom (boxing).
Other prominent members
in the body include
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore,
minister of Information and
Broadcasting, Olympic gold
medallist Abhinav Bindra,
double Olympic medalist
Sushil Kumar, bronze medal
winners Yogeshwar Dutt,
London Games bronze win-
ner Gagan Narang and Beijing
Olympic bronze medallist
boxer Vijendra Singh among
others.
The OAI has drawn a road
map and has put emphasis on
a few areas for the develop-
ment of the athletes such as
outreach, education and skill
development, education and
health insurance and pension,
mentorship of young athletes,
legal advice and IOC athlete
career programme.
They have also announced
a mentorship programme for
the young athletes which will
guide them during their
formative years and shape
their future.
They would also
be extending legal advice to
the Olympians as well as
work in tandem with the IOC
athlete career programme.
2004 Athens Games silver
medallist Rajyavardhan Singh
Rathore, who was present at
the event and launched the
official OAI website, be-
lieved that it is a great
initiative and will do wonders
for the Indian Olympians.
"It is an organisation which
is formed by Olympians for
the Olympians.
The brains
behind this great initiative are
all very accomplished Olym-
pians and a single platform
like this to join all the Olym-
pians around the country is a
huge step towards sports in
this country," said Rathore.
All Indian Olympians will
be registered members and
will contribute for the cause
and at the same time mutually
benefit from projects initiated
by the OAI.
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