Khelo Bharat Conclave seeks collective effort for Indian sports

The Union Government highlighted the way for National Sports Federations, State Governments, and Corporate houses towards playing a major role in taking Indian sports forward in the global arena, at the Khelo Bharat Conclave on Thursday.

“Sports is a public movement. We can set goals and achieve them only if we all work together,” said the Union Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya.

The Conclave saw four presentations on Sports governance reforms, Khelo Bharat Niti, India’s medal-winning roadmap and the ‘One Corporate One Sport’ initiative. Every presentation was followed by an interactive session.

“By employing this integrated policy, India can shine in the world of entertainment, generate jobs and provide direction to the youth of India,” said the Minister of State for Sports, Raksha Khadse.

“I urge the National Sports Federations to provide a five-year policy by August and then we can develop a 10-year plan. With the Asian Games next year, we need a holistic approach because we not only want to win medals in the Olympics, but make sports a commercial property, inviting the world to come and play in India and boost sports tourism. We are happy to provide all support to NSFs, but we will also look at performance based grants,” Mandaviya said.

Apart from good governance, there was discussion on improving the quality of coaches and sports administrators, enhance sports goods business and address the menace of doping.