The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu is the official sports organ of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Its role is to promote sports and physical fitness throughout the State, utilizing resources drawn from Government, Sports Associations, sports minded philanthropists, institutions and anyone committed to sports and physical fitness.

In this endeavour, the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu focuses its attention on:

            Providing opportunities for talent identification.

            To Develop identified talent to excellence at State, National and International levels

            Bringing in a competition culture throughout the State in order to promote physical fitness, talent identification, competitiveness and brotherhood.

            Establishing sports infrastructure and encouraging the same in the private arena to suit a wide range of requirements – from community level sports meets to that of international competitions.

            To develop appropriate coaching methods through coaching clinics, workshops, courses in India and abroad so as to ensure that correct techniques are taught at the learning stage and appropriate techniques towards international performances are in line with research based advancements abroad.

History

            The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) was established in the year 1992 by merging the erstwhile Directorate of Sports and Youth Services and Tamil Nadu State Sports Development Corporation. The SDAT is governed by an Authority headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and an Executive Committee chaired by the Hon’ble Minister in charge of Youth Welfare and Sports Development. It is the apex body for sports in the State and implements all the policy decisions on sports and youth welfare activities of the Government of Tamil Nadu.