Uttar Pradesh and India are witnessing a transformation in sports, driven by a "New Sports Culture" that emphasizes discipline, fitness, and team spirit among the youth, according to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This new vision, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recognizes sports as a powerful medium for personality development and nation-building, moving away from the perception of sports as merely a hobby.
CM Adityanath highlighted the significant strides made in recent years, with sports benefiting from a new vision, increased resources, and renewed confidence. Modern sports infrastructure, transparent selection processes, and mission-mode schemes have created more opportunities for young athletes. Competitions have expanded from the village panchayat level to the national level, resulting in increased participation and medal wins for Uttar Pradesh athletes in international competitions.
The Chief Minister made these remarks at the inaugural ceremony of the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship in Varanasi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the event. During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between the Sports Authority of India and the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate for the operation of the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE). CM Adityanath welcomed the participating teams, players, coaches, and officials to Kashi.
CM Adityanath stated that every Indian has witnessed the flourishing of a new sports culture in the last 11-11.5 years. He credited the Khelo India Khelo initiative, launched by PM Modi in 2014, with instilling a sense of respect for sports in the hearts of every Indian. He emphasized that sports should be a means of holistic development, achievable only through a healthy body.
The UP government is committed to promoting sports and supporting athletes within the state. Initiatives like the Rural Sports League and the creation of sports environments in villages through Yuvak Mangal Dals and Mahila Mangal Dals are underway. The government is constructing sports fields in every village and providing funds and land for mini-stadiums at the block level and full stadiums at the district level. An international cricket stadium will be built in Gorakhpur, and a large sports center will be set up in the Raptinagar area.
CM Adityanath's government offers government jobs to players who win medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships. Lalit Upadhyay, a member of the Indian hockey team who won a medal at the 2022 Tokyo Olympics, was appointed as a Deputy SP. Rajkumar Pal, another player from the Olympic-winning hockey team, will also be appointed as a Deputy SP. Over 500 players have been given jobs in the UP Police and other government departments.
The Chief Minister highlighted the development of sports infrastructure, including playgrounds in every village, stadiums in every district, mini-stadiums at every block level, and open gyms. These efforts aim to promote sports activities at every level. As a result, players are participating in national, Olympic, Commonwealth, and international world championships and winning more medals than before.
