PANAJI
Hailing Goa’s contribution to Indian sports, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the 37th National Games in the coastal State will boost Goa’s tourism sector and economy as a whole.
Inaugurating the National Games at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Modi said “Goa has given several sport stars to the country. The love for football can be witnessed in every nook and corner of Goa. Some of the oldest football clubs are from this State. National Games being held in Goa ushers a new energy”.
“The National Games will help boost the State’s tourism and economy as a whole,” he said as he congratulated the Pramod Sawant-led government and the people of Goa for creating national-level infrastructure and other facilities for the Games.
“The sports infrastructure created here will be useful to the youth of Goa for many decades and the land will produce many new players for the country, while the infrastructure will be used for organizing national and international sports events in the future,” he added.
“These National Games is a strong 'launch pad' for all the players... All the players must give their best and break all old records..." he said.
The Prime Minister was felicitated by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with a Kunbi shawl and Ghumat, a symbol of the State's culture and identity.
Speaking further, Modi said that the National Games are being held at a moment when Indian athletes are scripting new history at the world stage. He said that while in Asian Games, India won more than 100 medals, in the ongoing Asian Para Games Indian athletes have achieved a remarkable feat by securing over 70 medals and breaking all past records.
"There is no shortage of sports talent in India; the country has produced many champions... After 2014, we have made several efforts to bring change in the sports infrastructure of the country, selection process, and financial schemes supporting athletes..." the Prime Minister said adding ‘from Khelo India to TOPS scheme, the government has created a new ecosystem to support players in the country’.
Stating that the government will be spending over Rs 100 lakh crore in creating modern sports infrastructure in next 10-13 years, Modi said that the Sports budget for the current financial year is three times more than what it was nine years ago.
The Prime Minister further said that the development of the sports sector in any country is directly related to the progress of the economy of that country. “When there is negativity and disappointment in a country, it is seen in the ground and in life..." he commented.
Reiterating that India will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to organise the 2036 Olympics, Modi said that “It's a dream of 140 crore Indians. With the support of IOC, we would want to fulfil this dream”.
"I have assured the IOC that India is ready to host Youth Olympics in 2030 and Olympics in 2036... By 2036, India will be one of the major economic powers, and there will be a very big middle class in the country. India's flag would be there from space to sports... India is ready to expand on modern infrastructure and that's why the Olympics will also become easier for us by then,” he said.
He also announced launch of ‘MY Bharat’ or ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ campaign on October 31, on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birthday. This platform will act as a one-stop platform for youth and initiatives to engage with them, he said.
