NEW DELHI,INDIA: The Indian Army hosted the much-anticipated “Army Sports Conclave”, highlighting the role of Indian Army in India’s sporting ecosystem. As India sets its sight on hosting the 2036 Olympics, the Army Sports Conclave serves as a crucial platform to align efforts and contribute to this national mission. The conclave, with an emphasis on fostering collaboration with various national stakeholders, stressed the importance of drawing up collaborative strategies with the Indian Olympics Association, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Sports Federations to enhance India's global sporting aspirations.

The Indian Armed Forces have a long and distinguished tradition of contributing to the country’s sporting achievements, particularly in prestigious international competitions such as the Asian Games and the Olympics. Recognising the critical role played by the sports in promoting national pride, fitness, and international prestige, the Armed Forces have consistently invested in nurturing athletes. Indian Army’s Mission Olympics Wing was established in 2001, under which a total of 9000 sportspersons are training at 28 different sports nodes. In collaboration with SAI, there are total of 18 Boys Sports companies and two Girls Sports Companies across the India for nurturing the talent from young age (09 to 16 Years). Additionally, a Paralympic Node is established to motivate and train the disabled soldiers with disability for paralympic sports. Through the establishment of specialised, comprehensive training regimes, and infrastructure, the Indian Army has supported the careers of numerous athletes and sportspersons who have won accolades on the global platforms.

The event was graced by the presence of Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Minister of Labour and Employment & Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, AVSM (Retd), Hon’ble Minister of Industry & Commerce and Minister of Youth Affairs, Government of Rajasthan. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff also graced the event.

In his keynote address, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, AVSM (Retd), highlighted the government’s initiatives to bolster sports, notably through the ‘Khelo India’ program for games. He outlined a vision for India to achieve maximum Olympics medals by 2036, advocating for the creation of Centres of Excellence for sports. He also acknowledged Indian Army's contribution in promoting sports culture and mentioned that Indian Army emerges as one of the top medal-winning entity in the nation.

In the inaugural address, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, praised the Indian Army for its indispensable contribution to India’s sports ecosystem. He highlighted the necessity of a joint multi-agency effort to promote sports across the country. Dr. Mandaviya discussed the creation of a comprehensive roadmap for success in Olympics, which includes both short-term five-year plans and long-term 25-year strategies to nurture talent from grassroots to elite levels.

The conclave drew valuable insights from former athletes and Olympians, including celebrated personalities such as Anju Bobby George, Mary Kom, and Tarundeep Rai, all of whom shared their personal experiences and perspectives on what it takes to excel at the highest levels of sports. Drawing from their experiences, the conclave underscored the need for sports education, sharing of resources at national level and best practices across the sports ecosystem. The deliberations were carried out for integration of sports science at grassroot level, harnessing of talent of retired athletes and a multi-pronged approach custom made for Indian Sports integrating both physical and mental preparation of athletes aspiring to compete in the 2036 Olympics.  

The conclave thoroughly explored strategies for harnessing India's sports potential with a focus on future Olympics, emphasising the need to elevate technical standards for achieving excellence. A collaborative effort involving the The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Indian Army, Sports Authority of India, Sports Federation of India and other key stakeholders provided valuable insights, leading to the formulation of a comprehensive roadmap preparation for Olympics. The collective discussions laid the groundwork for actionable steps to ensure India's success on the global stage.

Source: PIB