Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday unveiled an ambitious India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking a significant step towards expanding cooperation in sports, youth engagement, sports science and investment under the broader India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The two leaders, accompanied by Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan, participated in a special event celebrating the deep sporting connections between the two countries. Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh and former Australia women’s cricketer Lisa Sthalekar were among the sporting personalities present at the gathering, which showcased the role of sports in strengthening bilateral ties and people-to-people links.
The newly unveiled roadmap seeks to enhance collaboration in sports training, capacity building, sports science and technology, and sports industry development and investment. It also envisages the organisation of an India-Australia Youth Sports Festival aimed at promoting grassroots-level exchanges and fostering closer engagement between young people from both countries.
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said sports possess a unique ability to bring people together across cultures and geographies and expressed confidence that the roadmap would broaden and deepen sporting cooperation between India and Australia.
Congratulating Australia on its Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that both countries were entering an important phase in global sports, with India scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and Australia preparing to host the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
“These developments create natural opportunities for closer bilateral cooperation in sports and associated industries,” he said, highlighting the scope for collaboration not only in competitive sports but also in areas such as technology, innovation, infrastructure and sports management.
During their visit to the MCG, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese interacted with young athletes participating in exhibition matches of kabaddi, football and cricket, underscoring the growing exchange of sporting traditions and experiences between the two nations.
Later, in a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Wonderful to visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground with PM Albanese. The passion for sport continues to bring the people of India and Australia closer.”
The event formed part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia, during which the two countries announced a broad range of initiatives spanning defence, maritime security, clean energy, critical technologies, education, trade and cultural exchanges.
The sports roadmap is expected to further strengthen bilateral engagement by leveraging sports diplomacy to deepen institutional cooperation and reinforce the longstanding people-to-people bonds between India and Australia.