Indian Olympic Association (IOA) executive council members will receive USD 300 per day as dearness allowance during their five-day stay at the Paris Olympics, marking a doubling from the USD 150 they received in Tokyo. In contrast, athletes will receive USD 50 per day.

According to the budget estimate for the Paris Games, each of the 12 executive council members will receive USD 300 per day, equivalent to just over Rs 25,000, for their five-day stay in Paris. This is an increase from the USD 150 they received during the Tokyo Olympics. Conversely, Indian athletes will continue to receive the same daily allowance as they did in Tokyo, as reported by Tribune India.

Additionally, IOA executive council members will receive Rs 1000 per day for the duration of their stay, which amounts to five days.

The decision to revise the dearness allowance was made during an executive council meeting held shortly after PT Usha assumed the presidency of IOA on December 26. The revised rules were approved during this meeting. Usha herself will be hosted in Paris by the International Olympic Committee in her capacity as president of the National Olympic Committee.

To manage expenses, the IOA has allocated a participation allowance of Rs 2 lakh to each athlete and Rs one lakh to each coach and support staff member in its budget. The Sports Ministry will cover a significant portion of these costs, alleviating the burden on IOA finances.

However, the budget estimate has stirred some controversy within the divided executive council. In response to this, Usha has solicited approval from each council member for the budget estimates to ensure timely execution of plans.

"…I kindly request your concurrence on these budget estimates to facilitate timely implementation and smooth execution of our plans. You will notice that this also includes the funds that are sanctioned by the Government of India in support of our teams. Your prompt review and approval will be highly appreciated, as it will enable us to proceed without any delays," Usha wrote in her letter.

In correspondence, IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav has recommended convening an executive council meeting to discuss and finalize the budget estimates specifically for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.

"…As the matter concerns financial approval for the Paris Olympic Games, it is my humble suggestion to call an executive committee meeting of Indian Olympic Association to finalise the budget estimates for Paris Olympic Games 2024," he wrote back.

IANS