New Delhi, November 30, 2024 – Having officially bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and establish itself as a global sports leader, India is set for an exciting era of transformation in its sports ecosystem. FICCI “TURF 2024”, 14th edition of FICCI’s Global Sports Summit, brought together sports leaders among policymakers, corporates, athletes, and global experts to highlight India’s bold aspirations and discuss strategies to realise its vision of becoming a sporting powerhouse.
Highlighting the need for unified efforts, Shri Kunal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India said, “Everyone has to work together like a jigsaw puzzle to nicely fit into the beautiful story called India.”
“No single entity—be it the government, corporates, foundations, or federations—can rise beyond a point. Even as parents and as a society, we have to ensure that the sports places around us are properly taken care of. Sports is not merely about playing and winning medals, but it’s a driver of the economy. It’s a driver of life. If you play sports, you will be happier, you will be fitter, your productivity will be higher and more so when you play, obviously you require some equipment, some support from experts and fans. So that way the whole economy will grow. Sports can become a good driver for the economy,” he further explained, while talking about the ‘Vision 20236: Making India a Powerhouse’.
Meanwhile, P.K.S.V. Sagar, Chairperson, FICCI Sports Committee & President of GMR Sports, said “I know 2036 is short but we Indians can do anything. When we can do it in other parts of the world, we can do it in our own country. So, I am a strong believer that we have the talent pool, we incline, we have a government that is so proactive, pushing us together, the corporate to go into stuff like this. We all want to come into India to help us do it.”
Rahul Bose, Director, Actor and President of Rugby India, pointed to the transformative power of ethical governance. He said, “When you build a federation on ethics, transparency, and accountability, you create financial, social, and gender inclusivity, which are vital for sustainable growth for any sport.”
Former Indian Cricket Team Captain Ajay Jadeja emphasised the role of grassroots development in building a sports culture. He said, “We sportsmen have the privilege of enjoying the fruits of all the hard work that all of you put in (federations, policymakers, corporates and government). And as a sportsman, when you are playing the sport, you really don’t understand what goes into sport. I feel the foundational focus is essential to nurturing any sport, maybe it’s something that’s been overlooked. And like, with educated people, you understand this better: unless you learn the alphabet, how would you make a word, how would you make a sentence and how would you go on to get educated? So I think grassroots is that alphabet of the sport.”
Table tennis star Manika, who was also present at the occasion lauded the government’s efforts while calling for greater corporate. She said, “The backing we receive today from the government and sports ministry allows us to focus entirely on our performance and it has helped us make our country proud. I feel If we also get support from the corporate sector, that would be really good.”
Harvinder Singh, Paralympic medallist, reflected on societal progress in embracing differently-abled athletes and how it is contributing to India’s dream of becoming the global powerhouse. “We often talk about the inclusion of society, and I think in the last few years, the mindset of people has changed. We are accepted and recognised. Parents now actively support their children, bringing them to training grounds and waiting for them outside. This shift has significantly expanded India’s Paralympic contingent and results.”
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