“We are trying to work with the states…”: Sports Minister Raksha Khadse on India's bid to host 2036 Olympics

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse said the central government is trying to raise the level of sports infrastructure and facilities in the states ahead of the 2036 Olympics for which India has bid to bag the hosting rights. Khadse spoke to ANI during a press conference in the national capital on Friday. Speaking about the preparations for the 2036 Olympics and how states are contributing to help India achieve this big dream, Khadse told ANI, “The state has a big role to play in sports. Sports is a state subject. We are trying to work with state governments on development.” And improving sports facilities and infrastructure. We are trying to host the Olympics in 2036. We are trying to bring that Olympic standard of infrastructure in all the states, so that it benefits the central and state governments.

Speaking about bidding to host the Youth Olympics 2032, Khadse said the event will help India represent the power of its youth.

“The whole world looks up to us and our youth because of our achievements,” he said.

Speaking about the Aasmita (Achieving Sports Milestones by Inspiring Women through Action) scheme, Khadse said it has been designed to give a platform for women to perform well in the field of sports .

“This is for women. We play sports not only to get medals but also to get fitness. Nowadays it is the era of technology and everyone is connected through their mobile. How can we develop sports through sports? Can.” It is important to bring awareness on fitness, give a platform to women to perform well in the field of sports. Women are performing well in sports in rural areas. Now, the government is doing well in sports schemes to give a platform to women in sports, so that they can participate, things like Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Sports Authority of India (SAI) centers etc.,” she said.

Khadse addressed a press conference in New Delhi today, where he discussed various initiatives taken by the Government of India for the youth. Additionally, he reviewed several aspects of the sports sector. The highlights are as follows:

India has seen unprecedented progress in youth empowerment since 2014, including employment generation, support for MSMEs, promoting startups, formalizing the economy, encouraging research and development, skill enhancement and promoting sports excellence and fitness. The focus has been on key areas like. According to a press release from the ministry, these initiatives are in line with the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, which will pave the way for a developed India by 2047.

Main characteristics:

Youth Development Priorities: The Union Budget 2024-25 allocated Rs 3,442.32 crore for skill development, internships and employment generation, a three-fold increase from Rs 1,219 crore in 2013-14.

The National Youth Policy 2014 provides a strong framework for maximizing youth potential by 2030.

Employment and Skill Development:

Unemployment rate reduced to 3.2% in 2023-24.

Initiatives such as PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) and DDU-GKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) have trained millions of people with significant employment outcomes.

Sports and Health:

Record-breaking performance at the 2024 Asian Games with 107 medals (including 28 gold).

Increased investment in Khelo India and TOPS programs contributed to Olympic (6 medals) and Paralympic (29 medals) success.

Khelo India's budget increased from Rs 596 crore to Rs 900 crore.

Women Empowerment:

Initiatives like Nari Shakti Act and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana underline the government's commitment towards gender equality.

India's progress in youth-centric policies and initiatives highlights its commitment to foster a strong and inclusive ecosystem, ensuring that every young Indian contributes to nation-building.