India's sports ministry is offering coaching jobs to all athletes who represent the country at the Olympics.
The ministry said Friday that the National Institute of Sports would issue Olympic athletes with a diploma in coaching, whether or not they had any educational qualifications. A diploma is mandatory to coach in India.
The announcement comes within days of a decision to give job promotions to any athlete working in the state sector who wins a medal in a top international competition. Medalists at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or world championships can be promoted by up to three pay grades.
India's 81-strong contingent at the London Olympics includes 64 athletes from government departments, with the others working mainly in state-owned companies or the private sector.
