International Olympic Committee

15 Oct 2023 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night emphasised the unifying nature of sport and its role in promoting peace during a keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of the 141^st IOC Session in Mumbai, India.

In an impassioned speech, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the members of the global sporting community to India on behalf of the country’s 1.4 billion people, noting that hosting an IOC Session, 40 years after India last welcomed the IOC, was a matter of great pride to the country.

Sport and culture are woven into the very fabric of Indian society, he explained, saying: “Sport is a very important part of our culture, our lifestyle, and it has always been an important part of our history. We Indians are not only sports lovers, but we live our lives in sport.” He went on to talk about India’s enthusiasm for sport and the country’s millennia-old sporting tradition.

The Prime Minister explained that throughout every period in Indian history, stretching back several thousand years, India has had an enriched legacy in sport. In the thousand-year-old scriptures, proficiency in 64 disciplines is mentioned, many associated with sport, including horse riding, swimming, archery and wrestling. The emphasis has always been on learning sporting skills. There is also evidence of sporting history in archaeological remains, including one site where the remains of a 10,000-seater stadium were found. He noted that this was not just India’s heritage, but that of the entire world.

But sport in India, the Prime Minister noted, is not just about athletic performance. Explaining that “there are no losers in sport, only winners and learners in sport”, he continued: “The language of sport is universal, the spirit of sport is universal. Sport is only to express itself; sport empowers humanity and gives an opportunity for expansion. Records may be broken by anyone in the whole world, but it is welcomed by the entire world. Sport is one family and one future.” He noted that every level of the Indian Government is committed to supporting sport.

This commitment to sport continues today. The Prime Minister explained that, to develop sport in India, the country is focusing on inclusivity and diversity. Thanks to this strategy, Indian athletes are performing well on the world stage. Evoking the country’s sporting successes, he noted the excellent performances of Indian athletes at the last Olympic Games. He also hailed the historic performance of Indian athletes at the recent Asian Games, where the nation’s athletes performed better than ever before, while at the World University Games, young Indian athletes also set new records. All this, he said, was a testament to the rapid development of the sporting landscape in India.

Looking to the future, he described India’s ability to organise and host global sporting events. Recently, India organised the Chess Olympiad, in which 186 countries participated. The country also organised the Under 17 Football Women’s World Cup, the Men’s Hockey World Cup, Boxing Championships and the Shooting World Cup. And, of course, every year India hosts one of the biggest elite cricket leagues, including the current Cricket World Cup. He expressed the country’s joy that the IOC Executive Board has recommended that the Session include cricket on the LA28 Olympic programme.

Prime Minister Modi went on to explain that organising global events in India offers a chance for the country to welcome countries from all over the world. To this end, he noted that thanks to India’s rapid development and well-developed infrastructure, the country now has the ability to organise global mega events. The world was able to witness this during the recent meeting of the G20, when events were organised in 60 cities. This, he said, was proof of India’s organisational capacity at all levels.

The Prime Minister then declared that India would be very excited to organise an edition of the Olympic Games in 2036. This was not just his dream, but the aspiration of all 1.4 billion Indians. But before 2036, he said, India would be willing to host an edition of the Youth Olympic Games.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his confidence in the IOC’s support, saying: “Sport is not the medium of winning medals, but it is a medium to win people’s hearts. Sport belongs to everyone. It is for everyone. Sport not only creates champions; it also promotes peace, progress and wellness.” He concluded by saying that “sport is a very strong and empowered medium for connecting the world” and finished his presentation with the Olympic motto: “Faster, higher, stronger – together,” before declaring the 141^st IOC Session open.