New Delhi: A two-member delegation from the International Olympic Academy (IOA), led by Director Makis Asimakopoulos and member Alexandra Karaiskou, visited the Sports Authority of India headquarters to meet senior officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, headed by Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao.
During the meeting, Asimakopoulos expressed his admiration for the Ministry’s comprehensive plan, strategy, and vision to play a significant role in advancing the Olympic movement in India.
He stated that after observing the government’s various sports initiatives, the IOA is keen to support the strengthening of Olympic education across the country.
“We want to bring our expertise to train athletes within the sports ecosystem on Olympism and the core values of the Olympic Games. This will help the youth of India understand and embrace Olympic values,” he said.
The discussion focused on fostering collaboration between the IOA, the Sports Ministry, the Indian Olympic Association, and the recently revived National Olympic Academy. The aim is to enhance sports education in India through specially designed programmes for coaches, sports science experts, and physical education teachers.
Established in 1961 and located in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the IOA is the only global institution dedicated to promoting Olympic education and studies. It has a network of National Olympic Academies worldwide, including one in India that has been recently reactivated.
Alexandra Karaiskou said, “Our discussions were excellent. The presentation by the Sports Secretary showed that India is making solid progress towards hosting the Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics. I am delighted that the National Olympic Academy in India has been restarted after a long gap, and we look forward to working closely with the IOA and the Sports Authority of India to promote Olympic values.”
Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao described the meeting as very successful and emphasized the desire to expand this cooperation. “We want to learn from the IOA’s vast experience to further strengthen our sports education. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the sports ecosystem is growing rapidly, and it is vital to develop experts who can take the Olympic movement forward in India,” he said.
Rao also highlighted potential areas where the IOA could assist India, such as creating a global standard curriculum, expanding the skilling ecosystem in major educational institutions, offering certified courses for administrators, conducting masterclasses by international experts, and collaborating on joint research and digital initiatives.
Additionally, it was proposed that India host a conclave for the Global National Olympic Academy network.
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