2036 ഒളിമ്പിക്സ് ലക്ഷ്യമിട്ട് തമിഴ്നാട്; 'ഡ്രീം ഒളിമ്പിക്സ്' പദ്ധതിയുമായി മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി വിജയ്

Tamil Nadu, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vijay, has launched an ambitious initiative, titled Dream Olympics 2036, to identify and nurture athletes capable of winning medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The programme was announced on Thursday at a felicitation ceremony for Asian Games medallists from the state at The Leela Palace in Chennai. This is in continuation with Vijay's encouragement to the athletes who per

A statewide talent identification drive for children aged between eight and 18 will form the foundation of the initiative. The objective is to identify promising athletes in every district and integrate them into a structured sports development system.

The state has proposed setting up 10 Olympic training centres to support the development of identified talent. A flagship Olympic city is also planned to provide athletes with access to high-performance training facilities and prepare them for elite-level competition.

"The stadiums that were built during J. Jayalalithaa's time are very old. We need to build good infrastructure and rehabilitation centres. There is no centre for physically challenged sportspersons. Our priority is to build a sound ecosystem around sportspersons. With that in mind, we have increased the sports budget. There will be sports events for transgender athletes, and we plan to have sports hostels in all 38 districts. Our mission is to ensure Tamil Nadu wins medals at the 2028 Los Angeles and 2036 Olympics," said Aadhav Arjuna, the State's Minister for Public Works and Sports Development.

Tamil Nadu has separately announced plans for a Motorsport City featuring world-class infrastructure for various disciplines, with facilities spanning Formula 4 to Formula 1. Existing sporting infrastructure in multiple cities will also be modernised, while new sports hostels and improved training equipment will be introduced.

ATHLETES SET FOR BIG PAYDAY

The programme includes financial and logistical assistance for athletes, with air travel allowances planned for those participating in national competitions. Funding under several existing sports development schemes will also be increased.

The government has revised its rewards for Olympic and Paralympic medal-winners, offering Rs 5 crore for gold, Rs 3 crore for silver and Rs 2 crore for bronze. Athletes who secure qualification for the Olympics or Paralympics will now receive Rs 15 lakh, while those qualifying for the Asian Games, Para Asian Games or Commonwealth Games will be eligible for a special incentive of Rs 7 lakh to support their preparations.

The state's athlete support system will also be expanded. The Elite category will now include 60 athletes, while the Mission International Medals Scheme (MIMS) will cover 175 beneficiaries, with the incentive raised to Rs 15 lakh. The Champions Development Scheme (CDS) will extend support to 275 athletes, each eligible for Rs 2 lakh.

In another significant measure, medal-winners from the Asian Games, Para Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Para Commonwealth Games will be brought under the Dream Olympics Scheme. Each beneficiary will receive annual assistance of Rs 50 lakh, including a monthly stipend of Rs 1 lakh.