Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090858840200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No house sites for Beijing athletes

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The sportspersons hailing from Andhra Pradesh and who represented India in the recently concluded Olympic Games in Beijing would have to satisfy themselves with cash incentives only.

The government made it clear that no house sites would be given to them, unlike in the past when government made such special gestures. Even the cash incentives would be subject to income tax deductions.

So when four of the seven Olympians - Gagan Narang, Saina Nehawal, Sathi Geeta and J. J. Shobha were taken to Assembly lobbies to receive the cash incentive of Rs. 5 lakh from Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

The cheques were given after IT deduction and each sportsperson got a cheque for Rs. 3.45 lakh only.

In case of Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, authorities declared him as a non-professional sportsperson, exempting him from paying income tax.

When one of the Olympians broached the subject of allotment of house sites, Dr. Reddy enquired from Principal Secretary S. N. Mohanty about the possibility and pat came the reply – that as per guidelines Olympians are given only cash incentives.

Intriguingly, the officials could get only four of the Olympians to attend the function.

The other three Olympians and even the A.P. Olympic Association and AP Athletics Association were too kept in the dark. “We had no intimation,” said Sania’s father Imran Mirza.

“It was a nice gesture but it could be still much better,” remarked ace shooter Gagan Narang.