AP: BRICS Sports Minsiters adopt joint declaration to deepen cooperation in sports
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Aug 23 (TNT): BRICS Sports Ministers on Sunday adopted by consensus the BRICS Sports Joint Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation in sports through dialogue, mutual respect and inclusiveness.
The declaration was adopted at the conclusion of the BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 held in Visakhapatnam under India’s BRICS Chairship.
The meeting brought together Ministers and senior sports representatives from BRICS member countries to deliberate on priorities for sports cooperation and development.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya called for building a BRICS Sporting Partnership that translates the shared vision of member countries into concrete collaborations in areas such as athlete and coach exchanges, joint competitions and sports science.
“We should build a BRICS Sporting Partnership that moves beyond declarations and creates real platforms for sports collaborations,” Mandaviya said.
He said India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was strengthening its sporting ecosystem and creating opportunities for athletes from the grassroots to the international level.
Mandaviya also highlighted India’s efforts to promote sports goods manufacturing and said a proposed scheme for Sports Goods Manufacturing Clusters would facilitate investment and boost domestic manufacturing for global markets.
“We invite global manufacturers, technology companies and investors to Make in India, Play in India and Grow with India,” he said.
He underlined India’s commitment to inclusive sports, including promotion of para-sports and greater participation of women.
Under India’s BRICS Chairship, three key initiatives were advanced to deepen cooperation among member countries.
The BRICS Working Group on Sports Technology will promote cooperation in sports science, athlete performance, governance, artificial intelligence, digital transformation and innovation, with India contributing expertise across sporting domains.
The proposed BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave received broad support, with Udaipur in Rajasthan proposed as the venue for its inaugural edition in November 2026. The conclave will focus on technology, innovation, quality standards, intra-BRICS trade and resilient supply chains, besides bringing together manufacturers, exporters, investors, technology providers, start-ups and research institutions.
The BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 are proposed to be held in Ahmedabad on October 12 and 13.
The non-competitive, culturally focused event will provide a platform for participating countries to showcase and preserve their traditional and indigenous sporting heritage and promote cultural exchange and people-to-people ties.
Ahead of the meeting, participating Ministers and dignitaries joined the BRICS Friendship Cycling Event in Visakhapatnam as part of the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle.
The event was led by Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, with participation from Ministers representing Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE, Iran and South Africa.
The cycling event highlighted the shared commitment of BRICS countries to promoting fitness, healthy lifestyles and people-to-people connections through sport.
The delegations reaffirmed the role of sports in youth development, inclusion, cultural exchange and international cooperation and welcomed the progress achieved during India’s BRICS Chairship.
Mandaviya thanked the participating countries for their commitment to strengthening cooperation in sports and expressed confidence that the initiatives would lead to sustained and meaningful sporting collaboration among BRICS member states.
The outcomes of the meeting are in line with India’s BRICS Chairship theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
TNT KM
