Delhi: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024, seeking public and stakeholder feedback as part of the pre-legislative consultation process.

The Bill focuses on the development and promotion of sports, ensuring ethical governance, and welfare for sportspersons.

It aims to create a unified framework for sports governance in line with international best practices, the Olympic Charter, and the Paralympic Charter.

Key features include the establishment of a Sports Regulatory Board, responsible for recognizing National Sports Federations (NSFs) and ensuring compliance with ethical and governance standards.

Other highlights include mandatory ethical standards for sports federations, the creation of Athlete Commissions, and a "Safe Sport Policy" to protect athletes from harassment.

The Bill also introduces an Appellate Sports Tribunal to resolve sports-related disputes more efficiently and emphasizes transparency through the Right to Information Act.

The public and stakeholders are invited to send their suggestions by October 25, 2024, via email.

This Bill is a significant step toward modernizing sports governance in India and positioning the country as a key player in the global sports arena.

Draft National Sports Governance Bill 2024 can be accessed at https://yas.nic.in/sports/draft-national-sports-governance-bill-2024-inviting-comments-suggestions-general-public-and.