This is an archive article published on March 3, 2025

Olympics bid on agenda, GIFT City to host Australia-India Sports Excellence Forum meeting on March 5-6

Other aspects expected to be discussed during the meeting include ways to foster elite sports talent, paralympic sports development, sports science and technology, and hosting major events.

olympicsThe forum is a joint initiative between the Australian and the Gujarat governments. (Express File Photo)
3 min readAhmedabadMar 3, 2025 10:58 PM IST First published on: Mar 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM IST

WITH DISCUSSIONS on key to successful Olympics and Paralympics bids on agenda, the meeting of Australia-India Sports Excellence Forum will be held on March 5 and 6 in GIFT City, Gandhinagar.

The forum is a joint initiative between the Australian and the Gujarat governments.

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Other aspects expected to be discussed during the meeting include ways to foster elite sports talent, paralympic sports development, sports science and technology, and hosting major events.

The first-of-its-kind forum will bring together key Australian and Indian decision-makers from across the sports ecosystem to advance Australia-India sports cooperation. The two-day forum will bring together leaders from across India and Australia, as well as Indian and Australian premier sporting institutions, higher education providers and companies invested in advancing the standing of both countries in sport.

With Australia set to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, and India’s ambitions to host the 2036 games, the forum is expected to present an important opportunity to discuss the synergies and wealth of opportunities in Australia-India sports cooperation.

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Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, said in a statement, “Australia and India have always shared a passion for sport and so it is only natural that we partner with the government of Gujarat for the Australia-India Sports Excellence Forum. The forum will present an opportunity for both countries to come together to share our experiences and expertise to further develop our sporting cooperation and capabilities. Australia is committed to supporting India’s sports ecosystem, which is reflected by the calibre of the Australian delegation at the forum, led by former Olympian and CEO of the Australian Sports Commission, Kieren Perkins.”

The Australia-India Sports Excellence Forum in Gujarat will mark a significant step forward in fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence in sports between the two nations.

Gujarat Minister for Sports Harsh Sanghavi said, “India and Australia share a rich history of sporting excellence, and the Australia-India Sports Forum provides an exceptional platform to further strengthen our sporting ties. We are proud to witness the collaboration of these two great nations, which not only fosters deeper mutual understanding but also creates opportunities for athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts alike. This forum marks an exciting new chapter in our shared commitment to elevating sports, empowering youth, and promoting healthy competition on the global stage.”

The Australia-India Sports Excellence Forum builds on the commitment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, at the 2nd India-Australia Annual Summit held in 2024, where they underlined the significant opportunities that sports present to foster bilateral ties and enhance our people-to-people links. The leaders further agreed to engage in capacity building, focusing on training and workforce development, sports science and medicine, and management of major sporting events.

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