Union Home Minister Amit Shah today while highlighting the governments ambitious plans to bring the world’s biggest sporting events to India, including the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games said that the aim is not just to host international events but make sports an essential part of everyday life of all.
Addressing the felicitation ceremony of Indian Police and Fire Brigade contingent, who returned after participating in the 21st World Police and Fire Games-2025 held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, Shah said, “Modi government is trying to host the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games in India so that sports become a part of the people’s nature” a Home Ministry statement said.
He said that India is going to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games and has already submitted a bid for the Commonwealth Games, and also submitted bid to host the Asian Games. The purpose of hosting these events in India is to make sports a natural part of the lives of the country’s people and different sections, such as the police and fire brigade.
Emphasising that sports should be an integral part of life, Shah said, “A child who does not play becomes discouraged by defeat, and a child who does not resolve to win after losing never develops the habit of winning. There is only one place to learn – the ground, the playing field – and it is on the playing field that the habit of accepting defeat and the passion to achieve victory are developed. He said that gradually this attitude should develop among our youth”.
Shah expressed happiness over the Indian contingent winning 613 medals at the 21st World Police and Fire Games and congratulated the Indian police and fire services team for their excellent performance and for making the country proud.
He said that the next World Police and Fire Games will be held in India. Shah said, “Our aim should be to ensure that at least one athlete from every police force under the All India Police Sports Control Board participates in the next World Police and Fire Games. Our participation should be inclusive. Each team should aim to win at least three medals. By setting such a goal, the record of winning 613 medals will break on its own”.
Shah urged the All India Police Sports Control Board to provide world-class coaches to the Indian police teams and to give specialized training to the medical teams of the forces for treating sports-related injuries. Adding that both these tasks need to be carried out in a planned manner and assured that full support will be provided by the Ministry of Sports.
The Home Minister also urged the Directors General of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to create an environment where every police personnel and officer develops a sporting spirit.
Shah said that today the Indian team was given an incentive amount of Rs 4,38,85,000. He said that earlier, the Police and Fire Games were not given much importance in the country. However, in terms of participation, this is the world’s largest sporting event after the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
He said, “Last year the Ministry of Home Affairs made several initiatives, including changes in recruitment rules for talent identification, formation of 25 outdoor sports teams in each force, and creating combined teams of the CAPFs. The proposed National Sports Bill includes a provision to recognize police forces at the state level, enabling each police force to participate as a single unit in national sporting events”.
Praising the athletes from various police forces for performing well by participating in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Shah said, “Now our focus should be on the World Police and Fire Games – 2029. In the 2029 World Police and Fire Games to be held in Gujarat, every athlete should move forward to win a medal by focusing on a single goal, just like Arjun”.
Shah said that many members of the Indian contingent won medals at the World Police and Fire Games – 2025, but there were also many who could not achieve success.
He said, “The most important thing is to participate in the game; winning and losing are part of life.
Setting the goal to win and striving to achieve victory should be our nature, and winning should become our habit. With the habit of winning, we always move towards excellent performance”.
The Home Ministeralso lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for increasing the sports budget fivefold in the past 10 years.
“A large number of new sports infrastructures have been developed. Under the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), around 3,000 athletes are being supported with a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000 to prepare for the 2036 Olympic Games. The Fit India Movement has also positively impacted the athlete selection process, resulting in a threefold increase in the number of medals won in the Olympics, Paralympics, and Asian Games,” the Home Minister said.
He expressed hope that India will be in the top five of the medal tallies at the 2036 Olympics. Added that a very positive environment for sports is now developing in the country.
