Vijay Goel, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India, today visited SAI NSSC Bangalore to review the progress of National Camps for preparing for the RIO Olympics 2016. He was accompanied by DG, SAI. He interacted with the athletes and enquired about their preparedness. The minister wished all athletes, including Hockey (Men), Athletes (Walkers, Middle and Long Distance runners and Relay team) and Para Athletes all the best for Olympics/Paralympics. He also complimented the Staff, Coaches, Sports Scientists and Officers, who did a wonderful job to support the National Campers to make them comfortable by providing all the required facilities and prepare them for the International Competitions as well as for the forthcoming RIO Olympic Games 2016.National Camps in Athletics started way back in 2014. National Camp in the discipline of Hockey started in 2015 after the relaying of Hockey Synthetic turf and also the discipline of Archery started in the month of May, 2016 for whom the facility was specially created on the lines of ambience expected to be available at the RIO Olympics 2016. National Camps in the discipline of Athletics(Walkers and Middle and Long Distance Runners) and Para Athletes is also being held at this Centre.
The 2nd Synthetic Hockey Turf Blue colour which is having similar specifications of the Turf being used in RIO Olympics was also made available to the National Team by the month of February, 2016.SAI NSSC Bangalore which is having a well equipped with dedicated staff, Sports Medicine and Sports Scientists to provide required assistance support and counseling to the National Campers preparing for various International Competitions. Recently SAI Head Office had also placed order for latest Sports Science equipment for providing better support to the National Campers. Also due to less number of qualified Sports Scientists SAI head Office has taken the Research Fellows to work in the Sports Science Centres. 10 such Research Fellows are allotted to SAI NSSC Bangalore and all these Research Fellows have joined and started working with the National Camps.