The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has asked all recognised National Sports Federations to publish the Olympic qualification and selection pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games by 15 July 2026. The directive is intended to make the criteria and process for athlete selection public well before the Games, which are scheduled from 14 July to 30 July 2028.

This is a sports governance measure, not just an administrative note. It addresses a recurring concern in Indian sport: whether selection for elite events is sufficiently open, predictable, and uniform across federations.

What the Ministry has directed

The Ministry has reiterated that the selection policy and criteria for mega sporting events such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Para Asian Games and Commonwealth Games should be well publicised at least two years before the start of the respective Games.

According to the release, the following steps are now required:

Recognised NSFs must publish the Olympic qualification and selection pathway immediately and not later than 15 July 2026.The published document must include the criteria and process for athlete selection.The same policy must be uploaded on the official website of each NSF.The policy and criteria must also be shared with the member units of the NSFs and the Sports Authority of India.The NSFs must disseminate the pathway among all affiliated State and Union Territory Associations.

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