Visakhapatnam: The BRICS Sports Ministers adopted the Sports Joint Declaration, highlighting member states’ commitment to strengthening sports through dialogue, mutual respect, and inclusiveness. Organised under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, the meeting saw BRICS member states discuss cooperation priorities and sports development.
Addressing the delegates and ministers, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya called for building a BRICS Sporting Partnership that translates the shared vision of member states into sporting collaborations. “We should build a BRICS Sporting Partnership that moves beyond declarations and creates effective platforms for sports collaborations,” Mandaviya emphasised, underlining how India is transforming its sporting ecosystem and creating opportunities from playgrounds to podiums under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Union Minister highlighted India’s key role in strengthening sports goods manufacturing and said that the scheme for promotion of sports goods manufacturing clusters will invite investments and promote indigenous manufacturing for global markets. “We invite global manufacturers and technology companies to Make in India, Play in India, and Grow with India,” he stressed.
Marking the occasion, three priority initiatives were rolled out to deepen cooperation in sports. The working group will strengthen BRICS cooperation in sports cooperation science, athlete performance, governance, AI, and innovation, contributing experts across key sporting domains. India’s proposal for a BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave received support, with Udaipur and Rajasthan proposing to host its edition in November.
The games, proposed to be hosted in Ahmedabad next month, will provide a platform for BRICS countries to showcase and preserve their diverse traditional and indigenous sporting heritage. Earlier, participating ministers and delegates took part in the BRICS Friendship Cycling event, organised as part of the 87th edition of ‘Fit India Sundays’ in Visakhapatnam. It was led by Mansukh Mandaviya, Raksha Khadse, and ministers from the UAE, Indonesia, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia and South Africa.
