COVID Surge: Sports Authority Of India To Close 67 Training Centres; Camps For Elite Athletes To Continue

New Delhi: The Sports Authority of India on Monday said it has decided to close its 67 training centres across the country due to rising COVID-19 cases.

However, national camps for elite athletes will continue in bio-bubbles. The decision will not impact the National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) like the ones in Patiala and Bengaluru where camps for elite athletes are in progress across multiple disciplines, SAI said in a statement.

SAI authorities said the decision has been taken in view of rising COVID-19.  The Sports Authority will close 67 SAI Training centres across the country. The decision also comes in the wake of directives issued by various states to suspend sporting activities for the safety of athletes, the statement added.

The centres are likely to be reopened after a review of the situation in due course of time.

With several COVID-19 cases reported in the country’s top training facilities, SAI had last week ordered implementation of stricter protocols, including weekly testing of all athletes and support staff at its campuses across the nation.

The stricter SOP was announced after as many as 24 sportspersons and 12 support staff members tested positive for the virus at the SAI’s Bhopal centre.

On Monday, India reported a rise of 1,79,723 COVID-19 cases.