PM Modi inaugurates Khelo India Youth Games, says country working diligently to host Olympics in 2036

Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur, Union ministers of state L Murugan, Nisith Pramanik, Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin were the dignitaries present alongside the Prime Minister at the event.

Modi placed the Game’s torch handed by Olympians Sharath Kamal and V Subha on the cauldron, marking the inauguration of the Khelo India Youth Games.

He also launched the foundation stone of projects related to the broadcasting sector worth about Rs 250 crore.

Addressing the gathering, Modi extended his wishes to all the athletes arriving from various parts of the country to the capital city of Tamil Nadu and said, “For Indian sports, the youth games are a great start to 2024.”

“Together you are showcasing the true spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” he said, adding, “The people of Tamil Nadu, the beautiful language, its culture and cuisine will make the athletes feel at home.”

He said the hospitality of Tamil Nadu will win all hearts and that the Khelo India Youth Games will provide the opportunity for them to showcase their skills as well as help them make new friendships that will last a lifetime.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s office, talking about the expected growth of India’s sports industry to one Rs one lakh crore, Modi said there is a new awareness about sports and the resulting growth in broadcasting, sports goods, sports tourism and sports apparel business.

Modi said Thiruvalluvar inspired the youth and gave them direction and heaped praises on Veera Mangai Velu Nachiyar, an Indian queen who waged a war against the British Colonial rule, which is also the mascot of this edition of the games. He called Nachiyar a symbol of woman power and said it is unprecedented for a real-life personality to be chosen as the mascot.

“With her inspiration, the government is continuously working to empower sportswomen,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s resolve to provide international exposure to local talents and the country becoming an important centre of the global sports ecosystem, Modi said, “We are working diligently to host the Youth Olympics in 2029 and the Olympics Games in 2036 in India.”

Speaking at the event, Stalin said similar to the vision of making Tamil Nadu a “One Trillion Dollar Economy”, his government also aims to make the state the sports capital of the country.

Listing down the national and international events conducted by the state government after he assumed charge as the Chief Minister, Stalin said Tamil Nadu is working on a mission to up the sports infrastructure to international standards.

He also mentioned the Kalaignar Centenary Jallikattu Arena, a grand sports arena built by the state government at a cost of Rs 62 crore for conducting Jallikattu events, which will be inaugurated by him on January 24.

Saying that Silambam, a traditional sport of the state, is being introduced as a demo sport for the first time in the history of Khelo India Youth Games, Stalin added, “It’s a great pride for the people of the state to see the saint poet Thiruvalluvar’s logo feature on the Khelo India Youth Games logo and have Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar as the event’s mascot.”

A spectacular start to the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai, a city known for a great sporting culture. My best wishes to all the athletes taking part. pic.twitter.com/IguJRwh2mj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2024

Modi, who is on a three-day programme to Tamil Nadu, reached Chennai International Airport on Friday evening. He was offered a grand welcome by the cadres of the BJP on his way to the stadium.