New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS): Sports Authority of India (SAI), in its bid to professionalise the running of sports bodies in the country, has decided to hire CEOs for the National Sports Federations (NSF).

SAI, the nodal agency of the sports ministry, took a number of decisions at its governing body meeting Tuesday chaired by sports minister Jitendra Singh.

One of the steps taken was to appoint CEOs for the affiliated NSFs.

It was also agreed that private academies can be run by "eminent sportspersons/agencies at SAI facilities across the country on revenue-sharing basis".

In a statement, SAI said it will promote sports in tribal, Jammu and Kashmir, north east and naxal affected areas to give a boost to indigenous sports by setting up Special Area Games (SAG) centres.

It also asked NSFs receiving government financial support to "recognize the contribution of SAI by prominently displaying the SAI logo in all publicity material, official merchandise and sports kits during all domestic and international sporting events".