PM Modi reiterates govt working hard to host 2036 Olympics in India

Published at :January 20, 2024 at 7:21 PM

Modified at :January 20, 2024 at 7:21 PM

(Courtesy : ANI)

The Prime Minister inaugurated Khelo India Youth Games 2023 on Friday.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced on Friday that the government is working towards hosting the 2036 Olympics, giving international exposure to sports persons and making India the hub of the global sports ecosystem.He inaugurated the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 and said that his government has put an end to the ‘games in sports’ referring to the allegations of corruption and irregularities related to sports, during the UPA regime in the last 10 years.

India achieved its best performance in Tokyo and Paralympics and made history in the Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

He said that the government brought reforms, sportspersons performed and the entire sports scene transformed in the last 10 years.

He added that there was never any shortage of sporting talent and passion but in the last 10 years, they have got new self-confidence, and government support in every step.

He praised the sportspersons from Tamil Nadu for ‘doing wonders’ in sports. “I am sure you will all get more inspiration from Tamil Nadu soil… today we are not waiting for you to come to sports, we are bringing sports to you.” He asserted that making India a top sporting nation is the nation’s aspiration and that big sports events need to be held regularly for that to happen.

He said that initiatives like Khelo India are fulfilling the dreams of youth belonging to poor, Adivasi, and lower-middle-class families.

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When we say vocal for local, it includes sporting talent as well. At the local level, we are giving practice and holding tournaments.” In the last 10 years, many international sporting events have been conducted in India for the first time. “You can imagine, we have such a big coastline, and beaches, but for the first time beach games were held in Diu.” It included the traditional Malkhamb and 8 other sports and 1,600 athletes from the country competed.

“After this, a new chapter for beach games and sports tourism started. This is going to benefit coastal cities.” The government is determined to see that young sports persons get international exposure and India becomes the center of the global sports ecosystem.

“Therefore, we are working hard to conduct the 2029 youth olympics and 2036 olympics in the country. Sports is not confined to the ground, but by itself is an economy,” he said.

He said he has given a ‘guarantee’ to make India the third largest economy and the effort is to ensure that the contribution of the ‘sports economy’ increases. In the last 10 years, the government is developing other sectors allied to sports.

Sports equipment manufacturing and servicing ecosystems are being promoted.

“We are giving a platform to professionals related to sports science, innovation, manufacturing, sports coaching, sports psychology, and sports nutrition.” The government has made sports an important curriculum in the New Education Policy.

Due to this, there is an awareness of choosing sports as a career. “There is an estimate that India’s sports industry will touch nearly ₹ one lakh crore in the coming years. The direct benefit will be to the youth.” The government is committed to ensuring that India becomes self-sufficient in sports manufacturing.

“Today we make 300 sports equipment…our effort is to set up related manufacturing clusters in different parts of the country.” The sports infrastructure being created as part of Khelo India is also becoming a medium for employment. “Our youth in school and colleges, those who want to make a career in sports and related sector, their better future is Modi’s guarantee.” Welcoming the participants, the prime minister remarked that they were together “showcasing the true spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat'” and said that for Indian sports, “the Youth Games is a great way to start the new year 2024”.

The state government’s chief goal is to make Tamil Nadu the nation’s sports hub, according to Chief Minister M K Stalin.

Sports persons from Manipur trained in Chennai recently as a gesture of solidarity, and some of them are participating in the Khelo India Games.

The PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for broadcasting sector projects worth about ₹ 250 crore. He also watched a cultural show that marked the opening of the 13th Khelo India Games.

Prime Minister Modi also unveiled ‘DD Tamil,’ the upgraded version of the regional language Doordarshan channel DD Podhigai, at the event.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of State (Sports) Nisith Pramanik, Union Minister L Murugan, and Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin were among the dignitaries present.

PM Modi is on a three-day trip to Tamil Nadu, where he will visit temples before heading to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir consecration on January 22.

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