Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Participates in International Olympic Day Program in Dehradun

Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami took part in a program organized at Parade Ground, Dehradun on the occasion of International Olympic Day on Monday.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister honored athletes who have won medals at the international and national levels, and also administered the oath of sportsmanship to the players. He said that this day is dedicated to the values of sportsmanship, unity, and peace. The Olympics are not just a competition, but a symbol of dedication, discipline, and national pride.

The Chief Minister highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, significant efforts have been made to promote sports across the country. India is no longer just a participant but is now emerging as a winner on the global sports stage. At the 2023 Asian Games, India delivered its best-ever performance with 107 medals, and 126 athletes qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, reflecting the growing strength of India’s sports ecosystem.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to develop Uttarakhand as a “Sports State”. In the recently held 38th National Games, athletes from Uttarakhand won 103 medals, bringing pride to the state. He noted that work is progressing swiftly to establish 23 sports academies in eight major cities, along with a sports university in Haldwani and a women’s sports college in Lohaghat.

The Chief Minister also shared that under the state’s sports policy, the government is offering several schemes for medal-winning athletes, including out-of-turn government jobs, sports stipends, and awards like the Uttarakhand Khel Ratna and Himalaya Khel Ratna. A 4% sports quota has been implemented in government services for sportspersons. Through the Mukhyamantri Udiyaman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana, 3,900 emerging players are being provided direct financial support via DBT. Under the Mukhyamantri Protsahan Yojana, 2,155 athletes have also received incentive transfers.

Sports Minister Smt. Rekha Arya stated that under CM Dhami’s leadership, the new sports policy has introduced several athlete-centric provisions. The state has witnessed rapid development in sports infrastructure, and Uttarakhand had the honor of hosting the 38th National Games, where athletes from the state delivered an outstanding performance.

On this occasion, Special Principal Secretary for Sports Shri Amit Sinha, Additional Director Shri Ajay Agarwal, and other officials from the Department of Sports were also present.