Deeply impressed with what is being done by Reliance Foundation: IOC president Thomas Bach

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach arrives to attend the first day of the executive board meeting of the IOC ahead of the upcoming 141st IOC session in Mumbai, India. AP

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach is chairing the Executive board meeting of the IOC that got underway at the Jio World Convention Centre, in Mumbai. The 141st IOC session will take place from 15 to 17 October after meetings of the Executive Board ends on 14 October.

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In his opening remarks at the IOC Executive Board meeting on Thursday, Bach said that the Olympic spirit is growing in India and also praised the work done by IOC member Nita Ambani and her Reliance Foundation in making India a sporting nation.

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“We could see and realise that the Olympic spirit in India is waking up, is growing. We have seen very positive results for the Indian team at the Asian Games in Hangzhou with a record number of medals (107) they won. In social media, India has the second most followers for Olympic social media handles. This shows great interest in particular the young generation in India has in the Olympic movement,” Bach said.

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“I had a visit with my IOC colleague and friend Nita Ambani to their Reliance Foundation and the programmes they are offering to the kids and youth with regard to sports and education. I must say I am deeply impressed with what is being done there by Reliance and Nita Ambani’s team. There are kids from all over India in these centres and most of them come from underprivileged families. They are offered schooling but at the same time given an opportunity to train and prepare to become high-level athletes. This is something that is exactly reflecting our Olympic values which we have in our strategies.

“To see it at such a scale and being done by a private entity which is the Reliance Foundation and being guided by our colleague is very very impressive and very encouraging, also for the future of Olympic sport in India. This is also greatly supported by political authorities. We also had a meeting with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra (Eknath Shinde). They are also in full support of the sports movement and there is a growing private support for athletes and sport.”

IOC Session: Nita and Mukesh Ambani host president Thomas Bach

The main topic of the decision during the event will be regarding host cities for upcoming events, inclusion or exclusion of sports and federations and changes in the Olympic Charter are made at the IOC Sessions.

These sessions are held by the IOC’s supreme organ and decisions made at these meetings are final. More than 600 members of the sporting world’s elite are attending this IOC session in Mumbai.

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