In order to keep the 2010 Commonwealth Games preparations on the right track, the government allocated Rs 624 crore in the annual budget for 2008-09.

Presenting the budget in the Lok Sabha here, finance minister P Chidambaram stressed on strictly adhering to the time frame while finishing projects for the Games and maintaining the quality as well.

In 2007-08, Chidambaram had provided Rs 150 crore to the Sports Ministry and Rs 350 crore to the Delhi Government for the Games.

In view of the 2010 Games, the government has become a little bit aware of the need to build India’s first dope control centre and has given Rs 6.75 crore on the head of anti-doping activities, a raise of Rs 4.25 crore than that of last year.

This time, the finance minister has earmarked Rs 1111.81 crore for the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, which is a hike of Rs 331 crore than the last financial year.

Altogether Rs 781.83 crore has been earmarked for sports and games, an increase of Rs 287.27 which comes to around 37 per cent more than that of 2007-08.

The sports goods manufacturers got a shot in the arm as the finance minister, in order to give a fillip to this business, proposed reduction of duty on specified machinery from 7.5 percent to 5 percent, a cut of two per cent.
He also exempted duty on some specified raw materials for sports goods.

Chidambaram also provided scope for the corporate houses to back more sportspersons. As per the new budget, sponsorship of an employee-sportsperson will be excluded from the purview of Fringe Benefit Tax.