PANAJI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted India has a vast pool of sporting talent and is prepared to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
He said India’s recent success in the world of sports is a huge inspiration for every young sportsperson, weeks after the country bagged a record 107 medals at the Asian Games in China.
Speaking after inaugurating the 37th National Games at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Margao, Modi said the Games are taking place in Goa at a time when Indian sports is reaching new heights. We have brought in changes in schemes to provide financial incentives to sportspersons, he said.
There is no dearth of sporting talent in India, Modi said, adding the country has produced many sports champions. Modi said his government has worked towards removing roadblocks in progress of sports.
“The government has created a roadmap to take players to Olympics podium (winning medals). We can see the impact of it now,” he said.
The PM said the Union government has created a new eco-system to take forward sporting activities in the country. Students from schools, colleges and universities are being identified and trained in different disciplines. The government is spending money on their diet and training, he said. Modi said the country is achieving new heights in sports. We have seen it happening in the Asian Games, where the country smashed a 70-year-old record (in terms of medal tally), he said.
Even in the (ongoing) Asian Para Games, Indian players have won more than 70 medals and broken all previous records. Before that in the World University Games, India created history. These successes are motivation for all players who are here, Modi said.
Reiterating that India is ready to host the Olympics Games in 2036, Modi said the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) initiative has been designed to provide best available training to athletes. “India is ready to organize the Youth Olympics in 2030 and the Olympics in 2036. Our aspiration to organize the Olympics is not limited to just emotions. Rather, there are some solid reasons behind this,” he stated.
He lauded the preparations made by the Goa government and the people of the state for organizing the National Games. He said the sports infrastructure created here will be useful to the youth of Goa for many decades to come and the state will produce many new players for the country, while the infrastructure will be used for organizing national and international sports events in the future. In the last few years, modern infrastructure related to connectivity has been built in Goa. The National Games will greatly benefit Goa’s tourism and economy,” Modi added.
The National Games are being held in Goa from October 26 to November 9. More than 10,000 athletes from across the country are competing in over 43 sports disciplines across 28 venues.
