Urging Indian athletes to compete for the honour of the nation, the Prime Minister also called upon parents and lawmakers to actively encourage sports from a young age.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial ‘Sadaiv Atal’ on his birth anniversary in New Delhi on Thursday, December 25, 2025. (Photo: IANS/PMO)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Sansad Khel Mahotsav finals via video conferencing during the concluding programme in Junagadh, Gujarat, on December 25, 2025, noting that the scale and impact of the event have grown significantly over the years, especially at the grassroots level.
PM Modi highlights the importance of grassroots talent identification at the Sansad Khel Mahotsav finals in Junagadh, urging MPs to actively support and guide athletes who could excel nationally and internationally, including at the #Olympics. He also praised the growing scale… pic.x.com/CJgzloa47H
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— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) December 25, 2025
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He stressed that initiatives like the Sansad Khel Mahotsav and MP Sports Festivals can play a crucial role in grassroots talent identification, placing responsibility on elected representatives.
“I would like to tell all the Members of Parliament that this is a great responsibility. Identify such talents in your constituencies who can shine at the national and international level, even at the Olympics. Provide them with all possible help and guidance,” he said.
#WATCH | Addressing the “Sansad Khel Mahotsav” virtually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “India is going to host major sporting events in the coming years. In 2030, India will host the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. This will be a great opportunity for young athletes like… pic.x.com/2d6vPSAuT9
— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025
Urging Indian athletes to compete for the honour of the nation, the Prime Minister also called upon parents and lawmakers to actively encourage sports from a young age.
“Today, I want to tell every athlete in the country, you are not playing just for your own victory. You are playing for the country; you are playing for the honour and respect of the tricolour,” Modi said, while appealing to parents to support their children’s sporting aspirations.
“I urge every parent to encourage their children to play and give them opportunities, because sports is not just a part of learning; it is an essential condition for a healthy body and a healthy mind,” he added.
PM Modi also interacted with young athletes participating in the Sansad Khel Mahotsav, encouraging them and wishing them luck for their future competitions.
LIVE: PM Modi’s remarks during Sansad Khel Mahotsav via video conferencing.
Source: Narendra Modi / YouTube https://t.co/vtFkwqETai
— United News of India (@uniindianews) December 25, 2025
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister underlined India’s ambitions to host major global sporting events, calling them a golden opportunity for the country’s youth. He confirmed that India will host the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030, while also reiterating the country’s bid to stage the Olympic Games in 2036.
“The young people who are 10 or 12 years old today will represent India in the 2036 Olympics. We need to find them, nurture them and bring them to the national stage right now,” Modi said.
Highlighting the expanding sports ecosystem in the country, Modi said opportunities in sports are no longer limited.
“Today, opportunities in sports are unlimited. An ecosystem has been created where even a child from the poorest of poor families can reach the pinnacle at a young age,” he said.
The Sansad Khel Mahotsav is being organised across various Lok Sabha constituencies from September to December 25, 2025, with flexibility for local MPs to organise games based on local needs. December 25, observed as Good Governance Day, serves as the common national culmination date, with Prime Minister Modi virtually addressing the combined closing ceremonies of these local festivals.
In Junagadh, the festival began on December 14, 2025, with the opening ceremony at the Sardar Patel Sports Complex in Porbandar, and culminated with the finale and closing ceremony at the District Level Sports Complex, Junagadh. The finale was held in the presence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.
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