PrashantNews
Amid stiff competition from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is making all out efforts to make bid for hosting 2036 Olympics.
“You all know that India is making every effort to host the 2036 Olympics. When the Olympics will be held in India, it will take the sports of India to new heights,” the Prime Minister said during the inauguration of the 38th National Games in Dehradun.
Stating that the Olympics are not just a sporting event, he said many sectors get a boost when the Olympics are held. “The sports infrastructure built for the Olympics creates employment. Better facilities are created for the players in the future. New infrastructure is built. This strengthens the construction sector also. The transport related sector also progresses, and the biggest benefit goes to the tourism of the country. Many hotels are built. People from all over the world come to participate and watch the Olympics. The entire country benefits from this,” Modi said.
In this regard, he gave the example of the National Games being held in Uttarakhand and said that the spectators coming here from different parts of the country will also go to other places in the state.
Describing sports as the main medium of the country’s development, Modi said that when a country progresses in sports, the country’s credibility also increases and its profile also increases.
He said India is moving towards becoming the third largest economic power in the world and efforts are being made to ensure that sports economy also gets a boost.
The Prime Minister said India is becoming a big quality manufacturer of sports goods in the world. Referring to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, he said there are more than 35000 small and big factories manufacturing sports goods which provide employment to more than 3 lakh people. Efforts are being made to create Meerut-like ecosystem in every corner of the country, he said.
The sports budget has more than tripled in the last ten years and hundreds of crores of rupees are being invested on dozens of players of the country.
“Sports in our country is no longer just an extracurricular activity. it is now becoming a major career for our youths”, Modi said.
Earlier, famous shuttler Lakshya Sen handed over the torch of the National Games ‘Tejaswini’ to the Prime Minister during the inaugural ceremony held at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
The Prime Minister took a round of the stadium in an open car and greeted the spectators and players present by waving his hand. Dhami was also present with him during this time.
In the National Games which will run till 14th February, about 10000 players from all over the country will participate in 35 sports.
Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha, Union Minister of State for Sports and Defence Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta were also present during the opening ceremony.
Colorful programs were also organized in the ceremony, which started with the Tandava dance of Lord Shiva. During this, athletes from different states also paraded in the field, whom the Prime Minister greeted standing up.
The presence of Molly the mascot of the 38th National Games was also a big attraction in the inauguration ceremony at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.