IOA promises no stress Olympics for Indian athletes, announces measures to ensure comfort

New Delhi: Claiming to be wiser from past experiences, the Indian Olympic Association on Thursday unveiled a slew of measures to ensure the "comfort" of its athletes at the upcoming Paris Games, promising that they would not face the stress of logistical challenges during the big event.

The measures include lodging athletes, specifically golfers, close to their competition venue, installing rehab equipment specific to the needs of Indian athletes at the Games village and engaging experts to ensure the mental well-being of those bound for Paris.

"Learning from past experiences and taking athlete comfort into consideration, the IOA is implementing strategic measures to ensure that the athletes are at their peak performance during the prestigious event," the IOA said in a statement.

So far, 49 Indian athletes, including 17 shooters and the men's hockey squad, have qualified for the July-August Games. The number would go up in the coming months and expectations would be high after the stupendous performance in Tokyo where India won seven medals, including a first-ever gold in athletics through javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.

The IOA said the golfers would not be required to travel too far to get to the course, a hassle that they endured in Tokyo where they were lodged in the Games village, a good 75km from the competition venue.

Aditi Ashok, who missed a medal and finished fourth, cited this as one of the major challenges during her campaign.

"Unlike the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where Indian golfers faced the unique challenge of daily travel exceeding one hour to reach the golf venue...The Indian golf team will be accommodated in a hotel in close proximity to the golf venue...," the IOA said.

The IOA said this is being done to alleviate the stress of daily travel and allow athletes to focus entirely on their game.

In addition to this, the body said it is engaging with experts in mental wellness and sleep therapy to provide "comprehensive support" to the Indian team.

"These initiatives aim to enhance the physical and mental resilience of the athletes, ensuring they are in optimal condition to compete at the highest level," it stated.

The IOA said it is also in dialogue with the Paris 2024 Organising Committee to implement "high-performance interventions" at the Olympic Village.

"This includes the strategic placement of additional rehabilitation equipment, catering specifically to the needs of Team India athletes." The IOA is also advocating for the inclusion of traditional Indian meals in the menu, something that has been done in the past as well.

IOA President P T Usha said athlete comfort is topmost on the body's agenda.

"Our commitment is not just to participate, but to excel. We have learned from past experiences, and this time, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure our athletes are comfortable, supported, and ready to make the nation proud," she said.