Sports Authority of India (SAI) has formed a committee to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure to resume training in all SAI Centres in all sporting disciplines after the lockdown is lifted. All training had been suspended across SAI Centres in view of the on-going Corona pandemic. A separate committee has been formed to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure for swimming, since the sport requires athletes to train in water and may have different health risks involved, as compared to other sport.

The recommendations of the Committees are being made in consultation with respective National Sporting Federations (NSFs) and other stakeholders and will be sent to the Sports Ministry for final approval. Our correspondent reports, all NSFs have been asked to share their recommendation of preventive measures that must be followed in each sport so as to ensure safety of athletes from COVID-19.

The first committee, headed by Secretary, Sports Authority of India Rohit Bharadwaj will recommend the Standard Operating Procedures describing protocols and preventive measures to be observed by all stakeholders, including  trainees, coaches, technical and non-technical support staff, NSFs, administrators, mess and hostel staff and visitors, once training resumes. The SOPs will include in detail the guidelines to be followed on entry norms, santization guidelines, precautions to be taken in common areas and by athletes while travelling to and from the centre.