BRICS backs India’s twin proposals on Sports Technologys

New Delhi: The New Delhi declaration of BRICS on sports backed India’s twin proposals to have a Sports Goods Manufacturing Conclave and form a Working Group on Sports Technology, since sports was a vehicle for social development. This it was felt would enhance cooperation among member nations.

On the first day of the two-day BRICS summit, being held at Bharat Mandapam here, the elaborate declaration, titled ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’, commended the progress made by the BRICS Sports Working Group.

Sources said that the Sports Goods Manufacturing Conclave is being planned in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in November this year and will focus on the exchange of technology and innovation, while bringing together manufacturers, exporters, investors, technology providers, SMEs, start-ups and research institutions.

It may be mentioned here that when the working group on sports technology met at Visakhapatnam last month under the chairmanship of India, it had deliberated on these issues, according to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Mandaviya had said India would play its part by contributing experts across key sporting domains to the proposed group.

“We welcome the proposal for the BRICS Sports Goods Manufacturing Conclave to promote cooperation in sports goods manufacturing, research and innovation,” it added.

“We also recognise the growing role of technology in enhancing quality of performance, welfare, governance and inclusion in sports and encourage discussions on the formation of the Working Group on Sports Technology,” the declaration stated.

Once formed, the Working Group will strengthen BRICS cooperation in sports science, athlete performance, governance, Artificial Intelligence, digital transformation and innovation, the Sports Ministry had stated after the Ministerial meet in Visakhapatnam.

“We emphasise the importance of sport as a vehicle for social development, people-to-people exchanges and promotion of healthy and active societies. We commend the progress of the BRICS Sports Working Group, including the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Physical Culture and Sport,” the declaration stated.