Chintan Shivir with Sports Ministers of States/UTs Concludes with Fresh Thoughts on School Games, Coaches and Athletes’ Welfare

Two-day Session Focused on Preparation for LA 2028 and Discussed Roadmap to Host 2036 Olympics

The two-day Chintan Shivir came to a successful ending in Hyderabad today with sports ministers of States/UTs and other key stakeholders agreeing that a collaborative approach was required to realise the dream to host the 2036 Summer Olympics in India and perform better at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who led the brainstorming sessions on both days, emphasized that the discussions at this Chintan Shivir should not remain confined within the four walls of a conference room. Instead, he urged that they serve as a catalyst for realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, where sports play a pivotal role in nation-building.

On Day 1 of the Chintan Shivir at the Kanha Shanti Vanam, discussions among the States/UTs and the Central Government centred around sports development and governance. On Day 2 today, stakeholders agreed that fresh emphasis should be given to promoting school sports, production of quality coaches and welfare of athletes.

The house agreed that talent identification should begin early, supported by a robust ecosystem to ensure that no potential talent goes unnoticed. Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that athletes are valuable assets to the nation, adding that the National Sports Repository System is being upgraded to enable close monitoring and systematic development of every registered athlete.

The discussion was unanimous in recognizing that talent identification and development must begin early for India to secure a top 10 finish at the 2036 Olympics. To achieve this goal, stakeholders explored the idea of reimagining the National School Games, envisioning it as a structured platform that provides competitive exposure and a clear developmental pathway, starting at the district level.

With 15 lakh schools in India and eight crore students, the possibilities were enormous, felt stakeholders and States could take help of the NSRS and the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme.

Part of this Chintan Shivir’s agenda was to boost the coaching ecosystem and explore how former athletes can contribute back to sports. It was discussed that there should be a proper standardisation policy and qualification system so the best coaches can be introduced into the system. Welfare of coaches and their holistic skilling were also discussed.

It was felt that athletes should be at the centre of all developmental schemes. The government has several schemes for athletes to take advantage of and Dr Mandaviya urged states to utilize the Khelo India State Training Centres to train and excel at the global level.

Union Minister of State, Smt. Raksha Khadse reaffirmed Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya’s call for states to collaborate with the government in building a strong sports ecosystem. “Our objectives are clear—if we want to excel at the Olympics, we must work together,” she emphasized. Smt. Khadse also urged states to adopt and implement each other’s best practices to enhance their sporting frameworks. In response, states reiterated their commitment to mutual learning and collaboration, striving to make India a global sports powerhouse by the time it celebrates 100 years of independence.