Target Olympic Podium Scheme
✓In order to improve India’s performance at the Olympics and Paralympics, the MYAS started the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in September 2014.
✓It includes foreign training, international competition, equipment, and coaching camp besides a monthly stipend of Rs. 50,000/- for each athlete.
✓It was particularly launched for India’s Olympic medal dream, at the 2016 (Rio) and 2020 (Tokyo) Olympics.
How does it function?
✓The Mission Olympic Cell is a dedicated body created to assist the athletes who are selected under the TOP Scheme.
✓The MOC is under the Chairmanship of the Director-General, Sports Authority of India (DG, SAI).
✓The idea of the MOC is to debate, discuss and decide the processes and methods so that the athlete receives the best assistance.
✓The MOC also focuses on the selection, exclusion, and retention of athletes, coaches, training institutes that can receive TOPS assistance.