‘India’s commitment to host ’36 Games symbol of power’

Gandhinagar: Union minister for youth affairs and sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said that sports can become an important pillar in India's march to becoming a developed nation by 2047. The minister also said that India's commitment to host the Olympics in 2036 is a symbol of its growing power.
The union minister met with senior functionaries of the Gujarat govt and reviewed the ongoing preparation for establishing Olympic infrastructure in Gujarat.
Speaking at the inaugural event of the 1st International Olympic Research Conference organised at Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, the minister said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi said we have to organise the Olympics in the country in 2036. This is a symbol of India's growing power."
At a time when India is moving towards becoming a developed country in 2047 and celebrating the centenary year of independence, sports can become an important pillar in achieving this target, he added.
The minister said, "Sports is a symbol of a nation's increasing strength. This is why PM said that by 2036, we should be ranked among the top 10 in the world in the sports sector, and when the country celebrates the centenary year of independence in 2047, we have to be in the top five in sports."
Highlighting the importance of research and innovation, Mandaviya said that if the country fails to conduct research and implement new ideas, it will lag. He added that ‘Fit India' is about ensuring physical and mental fitness among citizens, and such people create an ideal society that is healthy and paves the way for a developed country.
The minister said the conference was important and will leave an impact globally. Topics to be discussed during the four-day conference include the selection of the Olympics host city, legacy and urban transformation, economic strategies and technological innovation, sustainability and environmental responsibility in hosting, and games governance.