1-Aug-2017: Preparations for the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to be held from 6th to 28th October 2017.
The Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said in the Rajya Sabha today the preparations for the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to be held from 6th to 28th October, 2017 at six venues viz., New Delhi, Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Guwahati and Goa is progressing as per the plans and in terms of core infrastructure, almost 90% of all the requirements are already in place.
In a written reply he said, Mission XI Million is a joint programme, of this Ministry, All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) to popularise football across the country. The programme targets to reach 11 Million boys and girls across the country for promotion of football by 30th September 2017. Government of India has allocated around Rs.12.55 crores towards the said programme and an equal amount will be spent by AIFF/ FIFA. Around 6 Million children have already been covered under the said programme. The allocated resources are sufficient to cover 11 Million students, parents, and coaches as part of Mission XI Million Programme to popularize football in the country.
10-Feb-2017: Mission XI Million, the biggest school sports outreach programme in the country launched.
Driven by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi´s vision of making football the sport of choice in India, Mission XI Million, the biggest school sport outreach programme was launched.
A first of its kind, the programme will encourage children to play the beautiful game of football, gain healthy habits and learn important life lessons in teamwork and sportsman spirit. The approach is to work with school principals and sports teachers and encourage and incentivize them to make children play football games on regular basis.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has made many bold strides towards developing a sporting culture in the country. Projects like Khelo India are helping towards developing sport at the ground level while our TOPS scheme and Olympic Task forces look to help our elite athletes bring glory to India in the international arena. And with the FIFA U-17 World Cup being held in India in October this year, we are building our infrastructure and showcasing our ability to organize and execute global sporting events.
Mission XI Million is a massive school engagement programme for football. Designed with international sporting expertise, but keeping in mind the ground realities of our huge and varied country, it aims to instill the passion for football in 11 million children from every part of the country. Every child should have the opportunity to play the world’s most popular sport. To make that happen, schools and parents must be equally involved in children’s physical wellbeing.
The program will be rolled out in every state of the country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari from Kutch to Imphal.