PCI chief assures investigation into differently-abled athletes' complaints

Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) president Rajesh Tomar on Sunday assured that a committee will inquire into the allegations of differently-abled athletes, who have said that they were made to stay at a building with inadequate facilities in Ghaziabad.

The athletes are in the city to participate in the National Para-Athletic Championship.

"The PCI is a consortium of 17 different federations. One of those federations is for the Para-athletics. The PCI gives technical support to the different federations. The team that we created has not performed at this event. We don't want to play the blame game," Tomar told ANI.

"Basic facilities should have been put in place. Why were extra athletes adjusted into that hostel? An enquiry committee will meet and investigation will take place and I assure that future events will not face these difficulties," he added.

Tomar further said the building housing the athletes was chosen only after an organiser had given his go-ahead.

"A system was created to make sure that there is a quota system. We have an organising secretary whose job is to make sure that everything is proper. He did an inspection and gave an 'okay' for the place, but this is happening after the go-ahead from him," he said.

Earlier in the day, the athletes complained that the building that they were housed in did not have basic facilities like water and fans, and was replete with mosquitoes.

The National Para Power lifting Championships and National Athletics Championships are being held at the Weightlifting Auditorium in Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium Complex and Janhit Para Sports Grounds in Ghaziabad.

Over 700 differently-abled athletes are participating in these championships.