Mansukh Mandaviya unveils Srinagar Khel Sankalp document

Reaffirming India’s commitment to host the world’s biggest sporting events, such as the Olympics and World Cups, the Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, on Sunday unveiled the Srinagar Khel Sankalp document at the end of the three-day Chintan Shivir, outlining a collective national vision to strengthen sports culture through “cooperative federalism”, with a focus on athlete-centric development and expansion of infrastructure.

“We dream together of hosting the world’s biggest tournaments — Olympics and World Cups — to uplift communities and showcase India’s unity on the global stage. We, the States and the Union, pledge from this valley and beyond: sports will not be a footnote but a rising chapter in India’s renaissance.

The document recognised sport as a driver of economic growth and nation-building - boosting tourism, attracting international events, spurring local industry and reinforcing India’s ambition to host major global sporting events. It said sports federations, States and the Centre must work in harmony to make India a sporting nation and ensure sport does not remain a footnote in the country’s growth story.

Mandaviya chaired the Chintan Shivir of the Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports of States and Union Territories of the country. Over 15 state sports ministers, along with eminent sports personalities such as Adille Sumariwalla, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand and Gagan Narang, attended the Chintan Shivir and shared their ideas with the stakeholders.

The document outlined a collective national vision to strengthen the sports culture through cooperative federalism, with a focus on athlete-centric development, expansion of sports infrastructure, talent identification, development of regional sports clusters, and leveraging sports for unity, youth empowerment, health, tourism, and economic growth. It also reaffirms India’s aspiration to host major global sporting events.

“To realise this (sporting) ambition, we affirm that Sporting Federations and Associations, States, and the Union shall move as one, converging on shared targets, speaking in one voice, and advancing together with an athlete-centric approach,” the document read.

“With one voice — Sankalp se Siddhi (resolution brings success) — we commit ourselves to this journey, confident that together we will build an India where every athlete can soar, and every child is fit and healthy,” the document said.

We recognise that India’s diversity is not a challenge to be managed but a reservoir to be drawn from, and we shall map and develop infrastructure, identify talent, and build sports clusters rooted in the unique geography, culture, and heritage of every State. Yogah karmasu kausalam (excellence in action) guides our steps.

“We see sport as a potent tool of socio-economic development. We recognise that sports can drive economic growth by boosting tourism, attracting international events, and spurring local industry,” it said.

“Every Indian child deserves the joy and strength that sport can give. In the spirit of federalism, we embrace the vision of a Viksit Bharat where sport plays a pivotal role in nation-building. Sport binds communities together, fosters camaraderie, and strengthens social bonds.”