‘States, Centre to Move as One with Athlete-Centric Approach; India Dreams of Hosting Olympics, World Cups; Diversity to Be Strength, Not Challenge; Over 15 State Ministers, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand Attend’
BuzzBytes News Desk
Srinagar, Apr 26: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday released the Srinagar Khel Sankalp document at the conclusion of the three-day Chintan Shivir at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), outlining a collective national vision to strengthen sports culture through “cooperative federalism,” with a focus on athlete-centric development, expansion of sports infrastructure, talent identification, development of regional sports clusters, and leveraging sports for unity, youth empowerment, health, tourism, and economic growth.
The document recognised sport as a driver of economic growth and nation-building — boosting tourism, attracting international events, spurring local industry and reinforcing India’s ambition to host major global sporting events. It said sports federations, states and the Centre must work in harmony to make India a sporting nation and ensure sport does not remain a footnote in the country’s growth story.
“We dream together of hosting the world’s biggest tournaments — Olympics and World Cups — to uplift communities and showcase India’s unity on the global stage. We, the States and the Union, pledge from this valley and beyond: sports will not be a footnote but a rising chapter in India’s renaissance. With one voice — Sankalp se Siddhi (resolution brings success) — we commit ourselves to this journey, confident that together we will build an India where every athlete can soar, and every child is fit and healthy,” the document read.
Mandaviya chaired the Chintan Shivir of the Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports of states and Union Territories. Over 15 state sports ministers, along with eminent sports personalities such as Adille Sumariwalla, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand and Gagan Narang attended the Shivir and shared their ideas with stakeholders.
The document outlined a collective national vision to strengthen sports culture through cooperative federalism, with a focus on:
