Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday called upon universities and schools in the state to promote a strong sports culture and help the country win a large number of medals at the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.
Inaugurating the East Zone Inter-University Women’s Basketball Championship at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, the Chief Minister said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is preparing to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympics, and we must begin preparing today to win a substantial number of medals at that event.”
Highlighting the state government’s efforts to promote sportspersons, he said more than 500 medal winners have been given government jobs in various departments, and over 96,000 sports kits have been distributed to youth at the district level.
Sharing details of incentives for medal winners, he said, “Now, not only the Union government but also state governments provide awards to athletes who win medals at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games or World Championships.”
“In Uttar Pradesh, our government provides special support to young athletes from the state. If a youth from Uttar Pradesh qualifies for the Olympics and participates in the team, we provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to support their participation,” he said.
Chief Minister Yogi said there is visible enthusiasm to promote sports across the state. “I believe that over the past 11 years, we have witnessed the emergence of a new sports culture in the country,” he said.
“Before 2014, sports and athletic competitions were not a priority on the government’s agenda. There was little focus on this area, and it was often neglected,” he added.
He hailed Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives such as ‘Khelo India’, the ‘Fit India Movement’ and the ‘Khelo MP Youth Games’ as milestones in steering the country towards becoming a sports superpower.
The Chief Minister said sports not only keep the body and mind healthy but also serve as a foundation for building a strong nation.
He also recalled how sages in Indian tradition followed discipline and pursued physical activities to lead healthy lives and maintain physical fitness.
— IANS
