‘India’s Engagement With Olympic Movement Goes Beyond Competitive Sports’, Says IOA Chief PT Usha

Last Updated:January 29, 2025, 20:22 IST

The track and field legend highlighted the improvements the country would witness in addition to the increased level of sporting quality, such as the exchange of culture and the promotion of the true spirit of sports if the nation could manage to successfully bring the…Read More

PT Usha. (X)

Indian Olympic Association chief PT Usha illuminated the crowd gathered at the 1st International Olympic Research Conference on Wednesday about the holistic development the nation aims to achieve with the dream of bringing the 2026 Olympic Games to India at the centre of it.

The track and field legend highlighted the improvements the country would witness in addition to the increased level of sporting quality, such as the exchange of culture and the promotion of the true spirit of sports.

“India’s engagement with the Olympic movement is at a transformative moment, one that goes beyond competitive sports to embrace the true spirit of Olympisim — that is promoting peace, education and cultural exchange through sports,” Usha said.

“What makes this conference significant is its timing. As India intends to host the (2036) Olympics, we are not just strengthening our infrastructure capabilities, but our intellectual and research preparedness too,” she added.

The IOA aspired to earn the hosting rights for the quadrennial event with an eye on the overall betterment of the sporting ecosystem that the games could help in garnering.

“This gathering gave a powerful message to the international sporting community – that is India’s commitment to contributing meaningfully to the global Olympic movement through research, innovation and knowledge exchange,” the 60-year-old added.

IOA vice-president Ajay Patel added that the four-day conclave is a reflection of the aspirations of the nation on the sporting front as India looks to the fields for a sense of empowerment.

“Research is our most powerful tool. During the conference, we should discuss critical questions, such as how sports infrastructure can drive urban regeneration, what economic models can make mega events financially sustainable and how do we ensure technological innovation benefits people,” Patel noted.

News sports ‘India’s Engagement With Olympic Movement Goes Beyond Competitive Sports’, Says IOA Chief PT Usha



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