BRICS Sports Ministers agree to strengthen cooperation at Visakhapatnam meeting
Visakhapatnam, Aug 23 (IANS) The BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 concluded in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, with the adoption by consensus of the BRICS Sports Joint Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of the member states to strengthen cooperation in sport through dialogue, mutual respect, and inclusiveness.
Held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, the Meeting brought together Ministers and senior sports representatives from BRICS Member States to discuss cooperation priorities and sports development.
In his opening statement, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya called for building a BRICS Sporting Partnership that translates the shared vision of member states into tangible sporting collaborations.
“We should build a BRICS Sporting Partnership that moves beyond declarations and creates real platforms for sports collaborations, whether it is athlete and coach exchanges, joint competitions or sports science knowledge sharing,” he said.
Emphasising the role of sport in nation-building, Mandaviya said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is transforming its sporting ecosystem and creating opportunities from the playground to the podium.
The Union Minister highlighted India’s efforts to strengthen sports goods manufacturing, noting that the soon-to-be-launched scheme for promotion of Sports Goods Manufacturing Clusters will facilitate investment and promote 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.
Mandaviya also underlined India’s commitment to making sport more inclusive through para-sport promotion initiatives and new pathways for greater participation of women in sport.
During India’s Chairship, three priority initiatives have been advanced to deepen cooperation in sports:
The Working Group will strengthen BRICS cooperation in sports science, athlete performance, governance, AI, digital transformation and innovation, with India contributing experts across key sporting domains.
India’s proposal for a BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave received broad support, with Rajasthan’s Udaipur proposed as the host city for its inaugural edition in November 2026. The Conclave will focus on the exchange of best practices, technology and innovation, quality standards, intra-BRICS trade and resilient supply chains, while bringing together manufacturers, exporters, investors, technology providers, SMEs, start-ups and researchers.
The BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games, proposed to be hosted in Ahmedabad on October 12-13, will provide a platform for BRICS countries to showcase and preserve their diverse traditional and indigenous sporting heritage.
Conceived as a non-competitive and culturally focused initiative, the Games will promote cultural exchange, people-to-people ties and mutual understanding.
The Games will also facilitate voluntary athlete and practitioner engagement across participating countries, wherever appropriate and feasible. Common cultural sensitivity protocols and mutual respect frameworks will guide participation, recognising the cultural significance, customs and traditional knowledge systems associated with each sport.
Ahead of the formal proceedings, participating Ministers and dignitaries joined the BRICS Friendship Cycling Event, organised as part of the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Visakhapatnam. Led by Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, the event saw participation from Ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE, Iran and South Africa.
The event reflected the shared BRICS commitment to promoting fitness, healthy lifestyles and people-to-people connections through sport.
Delegations reaffirmed the role of sport in advancing youth development, inclusion, cultural exchange and international cooperation, while welcoming the progress achieved during India’s BRICS Chairship.
Mandaviya appreciated all participating countries for their continued commitment to strengthening cooperation in sports within the BRICS framework and expressed confidence that the partnership would translate into meaningful and sustained sporting collaboration among Member States.
The outcomes of the Meeting contribute to India’s BRICS Chairship theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
–IANS
hs/bsk/v
