Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, on Tuesday inaugurated the BIMSTEC Aquatics Championships 2024 in New Delhi. This marks the first time such an event is being held.
During the inauguration ceremony, Thakur underscored the significance of uniting the seven BIMSTEC countries. With a quarter of the world’s population residing in South Asia and Southeast Asia, this collaboration not only facilitates travel and transportation in the Bay of Bengal region but also fosters progress, development, and cooperation.
Thakur said that the championships will not only strengthen friendships but also promote a deeper sporting culture, echoing the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he announced the event during the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Nepal in 2018.
Originally scheduled for 2021, the event was postponed to 2024 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside Thakur, the opening ceremony witnessed the presence of Nepal’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dig Bahadur Limbu, and BIMSTEC High Commissioners & Ambassadors to India, among other dignitaries from participating nations.
The event is taking place at Delhi’s Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex from February 6 to 9. It features competitions in swimming, water polo, and diving for athletes under 20 years old.
A total of 39 medals and 9 trophies are up for grabs across the three sporting events, with over 500 personnel, including 268 athletes from BIMSTEC member countries, expected to participate.
BIMSTEC, comprising five South Asian nations (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and two Southeast Asian nations (Myanmar and Thailand), serves as a vital link between South and Southeast Asia for multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation.