A delegation from the International Olympic Academy (IOA) has expressed strong appreciation for India’s strategy, planning and long-term vision to contribute meaningfully to the global Olympic movement. A two-member IOA delegation met senior officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in New Delhi to discuss collaborative programmes aimed at strengthening Olympic education and sports expertise in India.
IOA Impressed with India’s Sports Strategy
During the meeting at the headquarters of the Sports Authority of India, Makis Asimakopoulos, Director of the International Olympic Academy, said he was deeply impressed by “the plan, the strategy and the vision that the Sports Ministry has put in place to play a major role in the Olympic Movement.”
He noted that after reviewing various sports development programmes being implemented by the Government of India, the IOA is keen to extend its expertise to strengthen Olympic education in the country.
Focus on Olympism and Youth Education
Mr. Asimakopoulos said the IOA aims to support India by training stakeholders across the sports ecosystem in Olympic values and the philosophy of Olympism.
“We want to bring our expertise to train people in the sports ecosystem on the values of Olympism and the Olympic Games so that young people in India are trained to understand Olympic values,” he said.
Discussions on Structured Collaboration
The meeting was led by Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Government of India. Discussions focused on collaboration between the Sports Ministry, the Indian Olympic Association, and the National Olympic Academy of India, which has been recently revived.
The proposed collaboration aims to design specially curated sports education programmes for Indian:
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Coaches
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Sports science experts
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Physical education teachers
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Sports administrators
IOA’s Global Role in Olympic Education
Established in 1961 and located in ancient Olympia, Greece, the International Olympic Academy is the only institution in the world dedicated exclusively to Olympic education and studies. It works through a global network of National Olympic Academies, including one in India, which has now been revitalised.
India’s Global Sporting Ambitions Recognised
Alexandra Karaiskou, a member of the IOA delegation, said the discussions were highly productive. She noted that presentations by the Sports Secretary reflected India’s concrete steps towards hosting the Commonwealth Games and bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games.
She expressed satisfaction over the revival of the National Olympic Academy in India and said the IOA looks forward to close collaboration with the Sports Authority of India to promote Olympic values nationwide.
Creating Experts to Drive the Olympic Movement
Summing up the meeting, Shri Hari Ranjan Rao said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s sports ecosystem is expanding rapidly and now requires a strong pool of trained experts to take the Olympic movement forward.
He said the IOA could support India by:
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Developing global-standard Olympic education curricula tailored for India
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Extending skilling ecosystems at premier Indian institutions
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Designing certified courses for sports administrators
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Hosting masterclasses by international experts
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Enabling joint research and digital collaborations
Future Roadmap and Global Engagement
It was also proposed that India may host a Conclave of Global National Olympic Academies, positioning the country as a hub for Olympic education dialogue. Discussions are also underway to collaborate with the Hellenic Olympic Committee for structured legacy knowledge exchange in Olympic education.
Conclusion
The interaction marks a significant step in integrating global Olympic expertise with India’s fast-evolving sports ecosystem. With strategic collaboration, institutional revival and international partnerships, India is positioning itself not only as a competitive sporting nation but also as a thought leader in Olympic education and values-based sports development.
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Source: PIB
