Ahmedabad, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said India is placing sport at the centre of nation-building by investing in future-ready sports infrastructure as he inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games here.
“We are at a moment when the global sports landscape is evolving rapidly.
“Guided by a comprehensive 360-degree approach, including grassroots participation, talent identification, coaching, sports science, infrastructure development, athlete welfare and international exposure, India is building a sustainable sporting ecosystem for the future,” Mandaviya said as he highlighted the budgetary allocation of USD 3.76 billion for the government’s flagship Khelo India Initiative that will involve country-wide infrastructure upgrade besides training young athletes. It is a powerful instrument for youth development, social inclusion, cultural understanding and international cooperation,” he said. Sport today is not only a platform for competition.
The Minister said the progression of a traditional sport becoming mainstream is best demonstrated by Kabaddi, the contact team sport that has “transitioned from rural mud courts to commercial broadcasting without losing its cultural essence. The Minister also said that India’s traditional values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam , physical discipline, and holistic well-being align perfectly with the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect, and Friendship.
