Mumbai IOC Session Marks Defining Moment in History of Sports in India: IOC Member Nita Ambani at Opening Ceremony

It is an absolute honour to host the historic International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in India after 40 years and in Mumbai for the first time, IOC member Nita Ambani said in her address at the opening ceremony of the 141st IOC Session. Lauding the work done by the Narendra Modi government in development of sports and athletes, Nita Ambani said under the Prime Minister, India has also become a sporting power.

“Respected Prime Minister, we are filled with immense joy and gratitude that you have joined us today. You are the leader of the world’s largest democracy, the Architect of New India. Your support to sport has made this session in India a reality,” Mrs Ambani said.

She Ambani welcomed Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee as well as the delegates from the IOC, saying, “It is an absolute honour for us to host this historic IOC Session in India after 40 years, and in Mumbai for the first time ever! Aamchi Mumbai ─ our Mumbai ─ welcomes all of you.”

Nita Ambani spoke about how the session was a great confluence between India and the world, saying: “In this meeting of the IOC, I see the confluence of two wonderful forces. One is the Olympic Movement, which unites humanity and transcends all national, racial, religious, and linguistic barriers. The other is India, the world’s largest democracy as the host of this meeting.”

“…Today, more than ever our world needs to reunite in fraternity and solidarity. This cannot happen on battlefields, it can only happen on sports fields…,” she added.

“The mantra and motto of our 5,000-year-old civilisation is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakkam, which our Prime Minister declared as the theme at India’s Presidency of the G20 Summit last month. It means — The Entire World Is One Family… Today, more than ever, our world needs to reunite in fraternity and solidarity,” she said.

Mrs Ambani also congratulated India’s athletes for their record medal haul at the recently concluded Asian Games 2023. “Our young girls and boys are exhibiting incredible talent in diverse sporting arenas around the world. Most recently, they have made us all proud at the Asian Games in China. Many of them come from very humble backgrounds. Some of them are in our midst today. Let’s give them a huge round of applause.”

Mrs Ambani concluded her speech by saying that India is a torchbearer for the Olympic movement, encouraging everyone to commit to it.

“When our Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi declares the 141st IOC Session open, India will once again open its arms to the world, not just as a host but as a torchbearer for the Olympic Movement,” Nita Ambani said.

India is taking a massive leap forward in its journey as an Olympic nation with Mumbai hosting the 141st session of the IOC from October 15 to 17, 2023. The IOC session is returning to India after a gap of 40 years. New Delhi had hosted the 86th edition of the IOC session in 1983.

The IOC session is the supreme decision-making body of the Olympic movement. It discusses and decides on the key activities of the global Olympics movement, including adoption or amendment of the Olympic Charter, election of IOC members and office-bearers and election of the host city of Olympics.

An Indian delegation led by Nita Ambani, the first Indian woman to be elected as an IOC member, had made a compelling pitch at the 139th IOC session in Beijing in February 2022, following which Mumbai received overwhelming endorsement for its bid with 99% of the votes in its favour from the delegates participating in the process.