00:00 My name is Abhinav Bindra and it is a huge honour to represent the delegation from India for the right to host the IOC session in 2023 in the city of Mumbai.
00:10 Our delegation is led by IOC member Mrs. Neeta Ambani, along with IOC member and President of the Indian Olympic Association, Dr. Narendra Batra.
00:21 To begin proceedings, I would like to invite the First Lady of Indian Sport, Mrs. Neeta Ambani.
00:28 Mrs. Ambani is deeply committed to the elevating role sport and Olympism can play in our society.
00:35 It is truly an honour to lead the Indian delegation today and share our passion and our ambition for hosting such a prestigious Olympic event.
00:47 This will be the first IOC session in India in 40 years.
00:53 Since we last had the honour of welcoming the Olympic family, we have made consistent strides and grown into a more prosperous, more self-confident India.
01:04 Throughout the pandemic, sport has been a source of hope, joy, entertainment and motivation to the people around the world.
01:14 As we enter the post-pandemic world, with optimism, sport will continue to inspire us and lead us with its invaluable life lessons.
01:26 With one foot rooted in our cultural traditions and the other leaping up to embrace modernity,
01:34 India's next generation is brimming with a billion hopes and dreams, driven by the potential and the power of creative energy.
01:45 I truly believe India is on the verge of creating something very special with the Olympic movement.
01:53 Together, with you, we want to open the doors of opportunity to millions of young Indians.
02:01 It is time to write the future of sport and ignite our potential with the spirit of Olympism.
02:10 India is scaling new heights in every field, including Olympic sport.
02:15 Nearly half of India's population, over 600 million, are under 25 years of age.
02:22 This makes India one of the most crucial and exciting places to nurture and grow the Olympic movement.
02:31 Yes, it is our aspiration to host the Olympic Games in the future.
02:37 The IOC session in 2023 in India will be a catalyst that will ignite this ambition into action.
02:46 India is a melting pot of multiple cultures and incredible experiences.
02:54 India is a journey you can't complete in one lifetime.
02:59 With great joy, I invite you to begin your journey to incredible India.
03:06 The Indian government has a vision of India becoming one of the world's leading sporting nations.
03:11 Our efforts to fulfil this vision are very well underway with several sports development programmes across the country.
03:20 Our talent pool is growing with the support of our robust education system and various government initiatives to elevate sport from a part-time passion to a full-time profession.
03:34 It is my firm belief that the Olympic movement can help accelerate our vibrant nation in the right direction.
03:42 Hosting the IOC session in 2023 will demonstrate our ambition and elevate the potential of our partnership.
03:52 Rest assured that the Government of India will do everything in its power to ensure you have a wonderful experience during the session.
04:01 So dear friends, I look forward to having the honour of welcoming you all to Mumbai in 2023.
04:08 In recent years, India as a nation has embraced sports and fitness.
04:13 There is a strong belief that sports can provide a fundamental shift in our society.
04:18 We are already working with the government and the private sector and I am pleased to report that the stakeholders share a commitment to make the IOC session in Mumbai a truly memorable experience.
04:30 Thank you.
04:31 [END]
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