Last Updated: October 14, 2023, 19:56 IST
IOC member Nita Ambani delivers opening address at the opening ceremony of 141st IOC Session in Mumbai on October 14, 2023. (Image: Screengrab/YT-iocmedia)
Lauding the work done by the Narendra Modi government in development of sports and athletes, IOC member Nita Ambani said under Prime Minister Modi, India has also become a sporting power
It is an absolute honour to host the historic International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in India after 40 years and in Mumbai for the first time, IOC member Nita Ambani said in her address at the opening ceremony of the 141st IOC Session. Lauding the work done by the Narendra Modi government in development of sports and athletes, Nita Ambani said under the Prime Minister, India has also become a sporting power.
“Respected Prime Minister, we are filled with immense joy that you have joined us today. You are the leader of the world’s largest democracy – architect of new India. Your support to sports has made this session in India a reality… It is an absolute honour for us to host this historic IOC Session in India after 40 years and in Mumbai for the first time ever…”,” Mrs Ambani said.
“…Today, more than ever our world needs to reunite in fraternity and solidarity. This cannot happen on battlefields, it can only happen on sports fields…,” she added.
India is taking a massive leap forward in its journey as an Olympic nation with Mumbai hosting the 141st session of the IOC from October 15 to 17, 2023. The IOC session is returning to India after a gap of 40 years. New Delhi had hosted the 86th edition of the IOC session in 1983.
The IOC session is the supreme decision-making body of the Olympic movement. It discusses and decides on the key activities of the global Olympics movement, including adoption or amendment of the Olympic Charter, election of IOC members and office-bearers and election of the host city of Olympics.
An Indian delegation led by Nita Ambani, the first Indian woman to be elected as an IOC member, had made a compelling pitch at the 139th IOC session in Beijing in February 2022, following which Mumbai received overwhelming endorsement for its bid with 99% of the votes in its favour from the delegates participating in the process.