Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS), Anurag Thakur, recently convened a series of high-level meetings over two days in preparation for the 141st Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Mumbai from October 15 to 17, 2023.
Before the commencement of the IOC gathering, on October 14, 2023, Minister Thakur expressed his enthusiasm for hosting the event in India, welcoming IOC committee members and hoping for productive sessions that may lead to new additions to the Olympic Games.
During these bilateral discussions with influential figures from various international sports federations and IOC leadership, Minister Anurag Thakur emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange in sports science and medicine. The focus was on enhancing the well-being and performance of Indian athletes through research collaborations aimed at advancing training techniques, equipment innovation, and the implementation of digital coaching and training across various sports and related domains.
Among the notable figures with whom Minister Thakur held discussions were Lord Sebastian Coe, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations, and Jean-Christophe Rolland, President of the World Rowing Federation.
On the following day, Minister Thakur met prominent IOC members, including IOC President Thomas Bach, IOC Vice President Juan Antonio, and Nenad Lelovic, President of UWW Wrestling. The discussions extended to the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parson, Secretary-General of the Association of National Olympic Committees, Gunilla Lindberg, and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, IOC Member and Chair of the Future Games Commission. Also in attendance were Tayyab Ikram, President of the International Hockey Federation, David Lappertient, President of the International Cycling Federation, and Wiltold Banka, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The presence of Rajya Sabha MP, former Olympian, and Track and Field Athlete P.T. Usha, who is also the President of the Indian Olympic Association, added further significance to these bilateral interactions.
The collaborative efforts and discussions between Minister Anurag Thakur and the IOC leadership reflect a shared commitment to enhancing India’s participation and performance in the world of sports on a global stage.
