KATHMANDU, Dec 16: Parliamentary Committee on Education and Health on Monday began a clause-wise discussion on a proposed bill relating to the management and development of sports.

Participating in the discussion, lawmakers have registered various amendments to the definition of an international player. According to the amendment proposal, the player representing the country in any sports should be recognized as an international sportsperson.

A lawmaker from the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Jiban Ram Shrestha said that the name of the authority to conduct the international games ought to be quoted in the bill which is under consideration. “Players participating in the sports events under the Olympic Committee should be recognized as international players,” argued Shrestha. 

Another lawmaker Sarita Giri opined that clear terminology should be used so that there will not be any confusion in coordinating provincial, national and international games.  

Similarly, MP Rangamati Shahi was of the view that amendment proposals should be addressed first, and switch to another issue.

Responding to the amendment proposal, Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Bahadur Bishwakarma clarified that it is not possible to recognize all the players representing the country as international players.

“During the recently concluded 13th South Asian Games, more than 600 players participated from Nepal. Will it be justifiable if we recognize all of them as international players?” argued the minister. He, however, said that a clear standard should be set so that it will be just. According to him, medals achieved by the players can be the best tool to determine their standard.

Following the debate, the committee members agreed on naming the act as the ‘National Sports Development Act’. The Committee Chairperson Jaypuri Gharti called the next meeting for coming Friday. 

 
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