Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

The Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai ji, the popular and dynamic Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ji, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, my other colleagues from the Union Cabinet, representatives present on the stage, the president of the Indian Olympic Association, P.T. Usha ji, all the players, supporting staff, other officials, and young friends from every corner of the country, the grand journey of the Indian sports carnival has now reached Goa. There are colours, waves and excitement everywhere. There is something special in the air of Goa. Best wishes to all of you for the 37th National Games, many congratulations.

Friends,

Goa is the land that has given the country many sports stars. Passion for football is visible in every street of Goa. And some of the country's oldest football clubs are here in Goa. The organisation of the National Games in the sports-loving Goa fills one with new energy.

My family members,

The National Games is taking place at a time when the sports in Bharat is achieving new heights successively. What did not happen in 70 years, we have seen in the Asian Games, and now the Asian Para Games is also underway. In these ongoing games also, Indian athletes have shattered all the records by winning more than 70 medals so far. Before this, the World University Games took place. Here too, Bharat has created a new history. These achievements are a great inspiration for every player who has come here. These National Games, in a way, are a strong launchpad for you, for all the youth and for all players. Keeping in mind the opportunities in front of you, you have to give your best performance with full determination. Will you do it? Will you definitely do it? Will you break the old records? My best wishes are with you.

My young friends,

There is no shortage of talent in villages and streets of Bharat. Our history is a witness that Bharat has produced champions even when there was a lack of resources. Sitting with me on the stage is P.T. Usha ji. But still, every citizen always felt something was missing. Our vast country lagged behind in the medal tally of international sports events. Therefore, we took up the challenge of relieving the nation from this pain and took a resolve after 2014. We brought changes in sports infrastructure, revamped the selection process, and made it more transparent. We made changes in schemes providing financial assistance and training to athletes. We brought about a change in the mindset of the society. We started removing roadblocks present in our sports infrastructure due to old thinking and approaches in society. The government made a roadmap from discovering talent to hand holding them to reach the Olympic podium. We are seeing its results across the country today.

Friends,

There was hesitation regarding the budget for sports in the previous governments. People thought - sports is just sports, why spend on it! Our government changed this thinking too. We increased the budget for sports. This year's central sports budget is three times more than it was nine years ago. From Khelo India to the TOPS scheme, the government has created a new ecosystem for the growth of the players in the country. Under these schemes, talent is being identified nationwide at the school, college, and university levels. The government is spending a lot of money on their training, diet, and other expenses. Under the TOPS scheme, which stands for Target Olympic Podium Scheme, the country's top athletes are provided with the best training in the world. Imagine, training is currently underway for 3,000 youth across the country under the Khelo India scheme. Such a large talent pool of athletes is being prepared, and each athlete is being given a scholarship of more than 6 lakh rupees per year. Close to 125 athletes who emerged from the Khelo India campaign participated in the Asian Games. Perhaps, these talents would have never been recognized under the old system. These talented athletes have won 36 medals. Identifying athletes through the Khelo India campaign, preparing them, and then providing them with training and temperament for Olympic Podium Finish through TOPS is our roadmap.

My young friends,

The progress of any country's sports sector is directly linked to the progress of its economy. When there is negativity, disappointment, and pessimism in a country, its adverse effects are evident on the field as well as in every aspect of life. Bharat’s successful sports story is not separate from its overall success story. Bharat is advancing in every sector today, setting new records. The competition with Bharat’s speed and scale is challenging. You will get an estimate of how Bharat is moving forward from the achievements and works of the past 30 days.

Friends,

I won't take much of your time. Imagine how your bright future is being prepared. I will briefly tell you about the work that has been accomplished in just 30 days. In the past 30-35 days, you will see what has happened, and you will feel that if the country is progressing at this speed and scale, then Modi's guarantee of your bright future is assured.

In just past 30-35 days:

• The Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam was enacted.

• A crucial test related to Gaganyaan was successfully conducted.

• Bharat received its first Regional Rapid Rail, Namo Bharat.

• Bengaluru metro services were expanded.

• The first Vistadome train service commenced in Jammu and Kashmir.

• The inauguration of the Delhi-Vadodara Expressway took place in these 30 days.

• A conference of parliamentarians and speakers from G20 countries was held in Bharat.

• Global Maritime Summit took place in Bharat, with agreements worth 6 lakh crore rupees.

• Operation Ajay was initiated for the evacuation of Indians from Israel.

• A ferry service between Bharat and Sri Lanka was started after 40 years.

• Surpassing Europe, Bharat reached the top 3 countries globally in terms of 5G user base.

• Following Apple, Google also announced the production of Made in India smartphones.

• Our country set a new record in the production of grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Friends,

This is just halftime break. I have many more things to count. Just today, I laid the foundation stone for the Nilwande Dam in Maharashtra, which was stalled for 50 years.

• In the past 30 days, the inauguration of the 6,000 crore rupee super thermal power project took place in Telangana.

• A modern steel plant worth 24,000 crore rupees was inaugurated in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

• The inauguration of a section of the Mehsana-Bhatinda-Gurdaspur gas pipeline took place in Rajasthan.

• The foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies were held for a new airport terminal building and IIT campus in Jodhpur.

• In the past 30 days, over 500 skill development centres were launched in Maharashtra.

• Recently, Dhordo in Gujarat received the award for the best tourism village.

• The foundation laying ceremony for the Veerangana Rani Durgavati Memorial took place in Jabalpur.

• The announcement of forming a Turmeric Board for turmeric farmers was made.

• Central Tribal University received approval in Telangana.

• More than 2.25 lakh homes under the PM Awas Yojana were provided to impoverished families in Madhya Pradesh.

• In these 30 days, the number of beneficiaries under the PM Svamitva Yojana reached 50 lakh.

• Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the issuance of 26 crore cards was successfully completed.

• After aspirational districts, a campaign for the development of aspirational blocks was started in the country.

• A single Khadi store in Delhi saw sales exceeding 1.5 crores rupees on Gandhi Jayanti.

And friends,

In these very 30 days, much has happened in the world of sports.

• Bharat won more than 100 medals in the Asian Games.

• Bharat hosted a session of the International Olympic Committee after 40 years.

• Uttarakhand received a hockey astro-turf and velodrome stadium.

• Work began on a modern cricket stadium in Varanasi.

• Gwalior was granted the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Divyang Sports Centre.

• And right here in Goa, the National Games are taking place.

Just think, my young friends, this list of achievements in just 30 days is quite long. I have shown you just a small glimpse. Today, work is happening at an unprecedented speed in every sector and part of the nation. Everyone is contributing to the building of a developed Bharat.

Friends,

At the core of all the work that is happening is the youth of my country, the youth of Bharat. Today, the youth of Bharat is filled with unprecedented self-confidence. Recently, a significant initiative has taken place to connect this self-confidence of Bharat’s youth with national aspirations. My Yuva Bharat, or MY Bharat, has been recognized as a new platform. This will serve as a one-stop centre for both rural and urban youth to connect with each other and with the government. This will provide them with maximum opportunities to fulfil their ambitions and contribute to the nation-building process. This initiative will become a means to harness the power of the youth of Bharat for the development of a prosperous Bharat. Starting on October 31st, on ‘Ekta Divas’ (Unity Day), I am going to launch the MY Bharat campaign. As people know, we celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31st across the country with the Run for Unity program. I want there to be a magnificent Run for Unity program on October 31st for the unity of the nation in Goa and every other corner of the country. I urge all of you to participate in this campaign.

Friends,

Today, when Bharat’s determination and efforts are both colossal, it is only natural for the aspirations of Bharat to be high. Therefore, I presented the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians during the IOC session. I assured the supreme committee of the Olympics that Bharat is ready to host the Youth Olympics in 2030 and the Olympics in 2036.

Friends,

Our aspiration for hosting the Olympics is not limited to emotions alone; there are solid reasons behind it. In approximately 13 years, by 2036, Bharat will be one of the leading economic powers in the world. By that time, the income of every Indian will be several times higher than today. Bharat will have a significantly large middle class by then. The Tricolour of Bharat will be waving proudly from sports to space. Hosting the Olympics requires connectivity and other modern infrastructure. Today, Bharat is prepared to spend more than 100 lakh crore rupees on modern infrastructure. Therefore, hosting the Olympics will become equally feasible for us.

Friends,

Our National Games are also a symbol of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. It serves as a significant platform for every state in Bharat to showcase its capabilities. This time, Goa has been given this opportunity. The preparations made by the Goa government and the residents of Goa are truly commendable. The sports infrastructure built here will benefit the youth of Goa for many decades to come. Numerous new athletes will emerge from here, allowing for the organization of more national and international sports events. In recent years, Goa has also developed modern infrastructure connected with connectivity. The National Games will not only boost tourism in Goa but also benefit the local economy.

Friends,

Goa, known for its festivals and celebrations, is now gaining global recognition with the Goa International Film Festival. Our government is making Goa an essential centre for international conferences, meetings, and summits. We hosted the BRICS summit in Goa in 2016, and several crucial meetings related to G20 have also taken place here. I am pleased that the Goa Roadmap for Tourism, focusing on sustainable growth, has been unanimously accepted by G20 countries. This is a matter of pride for Goa and a significant development for the tourism of Bharat.

Friends,

The field, whatever the challenge, demands our best effort in every situation. We must not lose this opportunity. With this call, I announce the commencement of the 37th National Games. Wishing the athletes all the very best once again! Goa is ready! Thank you very much.

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DS/RT/VK