Ahmedabad, Oct 12: 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.
Designed as a non-competitive platform, the one-day event focusses on demonstration, and the exchange of traditional sporting practices. India’s choice of disciplines here are Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu.
“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 (over 36,400 crore) for the government’s flagship Khelo India Initiative that will involve country-wide infrastructure upgrade besides training young athletes.
“Our ambition is not only to build world-class sporting infrastructure for today, but also to create a lasting sporting legacy for generations to come,” he asserted. Apart from India, 10 BRICS nations are participating in the Games, including China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. “We are at a moment when the global sports landscape is evolving rapidly. Sport today is not only a platform for competition. It is a powerful instrument for youth development, social inclusion, cultural understanding and international cooperation,” he said. (PTI)