Athletes raise concerns over proposed training fees at Sree Kanteerava Stadium

A proposal to make athletes pay a fee to train at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here has caused a flutter.

The Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES) and the Stadium Management Committee (Sree Kanteerava Stadium Complex) have sent an application form for issuing temporary ID cards for athletes.

All athletes above the age of 16 (and below the age of 60) are required to pay Rs 6,000 per year. Those below the age of 16 are required to pay Rs 3,000 per year. There are also lower daily rates and monthly fees.

This will be in addition to the fee currently paid by athletes to their coaches or clubs.

The move to collect payments is reportedly intended to keep the casual public away from using the track. There are also vague promises of improving the infrastructure in the stadium complex.

Athletes training at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium raised concerns with the proposal. “The fee is the same for all – amateur, State level, National level, international and Olympian. This is not right. When we represent Karnataka or India with pride, it is the duty of DYES to support us by providing a training facility,” an international athlete told Sportstar on Wednesday.

ALSO READ | Asian Athletics Championships 2025, Medals Tally: India placed third with two golds after day two

The international athlete was not convinced that the promise of improving infrastructure would be fulfilled. “In the meeting held recently, officials promised to use the fee to improve the infrastructure. But when we asked for specifics, no reply was forthcoming. As of now, we bring our own equipment, and all our strength and conditioning gym work is done in private facilities.

“We are also not allowed to use the grass area beside the track. If the authorities genuinely provide all these facilities for us, we will happily make the payment,” the athlete said.

Another athlete noted that keeping casual passersby from using the track is already being undertaken by athletes themselves. “We often have to fight with people who use the track to take leisurely walks with sandals. In fact, we should be the ones getting paid for undertaking this policing work,” the athlete said.

There are also concerns that the fee will discourage promising athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds from pursuing the sport.

Athletes and coaches are keen to hold a meeting to discuss the matter further with officials.