National Sports Awards 2020: President Ram Nath Kovind to present awards in 1st-ever virtual ceremony

The National Sports Awards 2020, to be held on August 29, will be the first-ever virtual National Sports Awards function in its history. President of India, Ram Nath Kovind will present the award to the award winners virtually on Saturday.

In the virtual format, Ram Nath Kovind will be attending the ceremony through NIC link from the President’s house, via video conferencing, while the recipients will be present at SAI and NIC centres in various locations across the country. The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and other dignitaries will be present in Vigyan Bhawan for the award ceremony.

There are 74 awards in seven categories. Total 65 award winners will be attending the function from various locations. 9 award winners will not be attending the ceremony.

All health and safety protocols, in keeping with the guidelines of the Health Ministry, are being followed at all the venues where dignitaries and awardees will be present. Further, the Sports Ministry has advised every award winner to undergo a Covid-19 test before reporting to the venue.

Three award winners, after having tested positive, will not attend the function. All health and safety protocols are being followed strictly at the centres where the athletes will be present. All centers have been thoroughly sanitised and arrangements have been made to ensure social distancing during the awards function.

Awardees who are not being able to attend the function from one of the various centers or are not in India on August 29, will be given the award later. Of the 74recipients of the National Sports Awards this year, 65 awardees will be attending the virtual award ceremony on August 29, 2020.

The programme will be telecast live on Doordarshan.