The BCCI presented the breakdown of non-cricketing spending of INR 22 crore at its first post-pandemic physical Apex Council meeting on Thursday, led by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and attended by secretary Jay Shah, treasurer Arun Dhumal, joint secretary Jayesh George, and others.
The board budgeted over INR 18 crore for the Tokyo Olympics, including INR 68 lakh for an event management business, INR 4 crore for cash awards for medalists, and INR 5 crore for ‘PM Cares’ keepsakes for athletes. The board also stated that INR 3.8 crore was given for the funding of oxygen concentrators during the pandemic’s crisis hours.
The BCCI listed INR 7 crore for the advertisement agency that worked on the promotion of the Tokyo Olympics in India, INR 98 lakh for Olympics campaign T-shirts, and INR 70 lakh for singer Mohit Chauhan who composed and sang the inspirational anthem for the Indian contingent, “Lakshya tere saamne hai, jeet ke aana (The target is in front of you, return as a winner)”.
The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee drafted the board’s new constitution and urged the BCCI to assist other sports in the country in addition to cricket. Members of the Board kept committed to their legislative mission, stating that it was their obligation to look after the welfare of other sports in the country.
The Apex Council also decided to increase the prize money for domestic events. The Ranji Trophy, India’s illustrious and top domestic competition, offers INR 2 crore to the victors, which will be remodeled following an increase in allocation by the board, which is approved by the office-bearers. The rise in domestic competition prize money follows the massive INR 48,390 crore sale of IPL broadcast rights in June.
