By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian sports ministry and United Kingdom Sport Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding for an international sports development partnership that will reach thousands of school children and communities throughout India.
The MoU was signed by Richard Stagg, the British High Commissioner to India, and S.K. Arora, secretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the presence of Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.
“I am glad that the UK and India are embarking upon a joint initiative that leverages sports for youth-led national development,” Aiyar said.
“By virtue of the multiple benefits that sports generates in the areas of education, public health, social inclusiveness, cultural identity and recreation, this initiative is strategically placed to achieve this objective.”
Arora highlighted the sports ministry’s initiatives.
“The government has taken recent initiatives, such as the proposed Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan, that aims to promote sporting activities at the village level, and the draft comprehensive National Sports Policy, to create extensive sports infrastructure in rural areas to provide universal access to children, adolescents and youth…,” said Arora.
“This will also help in spotting and nurturing talented sportspersons to achieve excellence. The MoU with UK Sport will help to refine the modalities on a pilot scale, which could then be extended to other areas.”
The agreement brings together national and international experts in the fields of development, physical education, sports development and sporting excellence to provide access to quality physical education and sports at community level and the development of pathways to excellence for elite athletes.
The partnership offers both parties a unique opportunity to share best practice methods and expertise while also allowing those involved in sport in the UK to keep up to date with the latest international developments.
UK Sport’s Head of Worldwide Impact, Debbie Lye, confirmed that as a sporting nation India has an important role to play in international youth development.
“This agreement is a fantastic opportunity for the UK to work in partnership with a dynamic country that recognises the importance of a youth-led sports development approach,” he said.
“For a long time there has been a mutual desire to work together and, as Commonwealth Games hosts, both countries will be able to share learning and expertise to ensure that a social legacy can be delivered through the hosting of international events.”