NEW DELHI, India (AP) — India’s Sports Ministry is to offer coaching jobs to all athletes who represent the country at an Olympics.

The ministry said yesterday that the National Institute of Sports (NIS)would simply 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 NIS will provide them with a diploma in sports coaching as a part of their training,” the Sports Ministry said in a statement.

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. Medallists 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.

“It has been decided to fill up more than 400 vacancies. In the first phase, the process of recruitment of 200 coaches is being initiated,” the ministry added.

This scheme will also be applicable to disabled athletes.