New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS): The Sports Authority of India (SAI), Athletic Federation of India (AFI) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an IAAF High Performance Academy in athletics at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

An Expression of Intent (EOI) for this purpose was signed in the chamber of secretary, sports at Shastri Bhavan among SAI director general Injeti Srinivas, AFI president Adille J. Sumariwalle and IAAF president Sebastian Coe, it was announced at a press conference here.

The academy envisages providing excellent coaching, integrated support services, mental skills and to create an extremely focused and professional atmosphere to develop elite athletes for international championships.

The academy will primarily focus on IAAF Youth & Junior World championships, Youth Olympic Games and Olympic Games 2020 and 2024.

Whereas SAI will be responsible for funding and making available the necessary infrastructure like stadiums, strength training gymnasium, sports science backup and hostel facilities etc., IAAF will provide specialists in sprints, jump, heptathlon and decathlon etc.

AFI will assist in the management of the academy and will manage athletes jointly with SAI. The IAAF will also provide specialists who will visit the academy twice a year at the time of athletics conditioning period and during transition to competition period.

They will also share their expertise and knowledge with Indian coaches during their stay in India.

IAAF chief Coe, two-time Olympic champion in the 1500 metres, also emphasised the need for good coaching. He said the world governing body will provide technical assistance to the academy.

DG SAI Srinivas believes that this initiative will bring far reaching changes in the progression of athletics in India.