In a significant step for India’s sporting ambitions, top officials from the International Olympic Academy (IOA) held talks with India’s Sports Ministry on January 30 in New Delhi. Director Makis Asimakopoulos and colleague Alexandra Karaiskou met with Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and his team at the sports authority’s base.
The IOA chief was visibly struck by the Sports Ministry’s blueprint for dominating the Olympic landscape. He commended the strategic roadmap and forward-thinking vision that positions India as a powerhouse.
Post a thorough look at India’s sports programs, IOA is raring to contribute to Olympic education nationwide. Asimakopoulos emphasized sharing IOA’s know-how to train athletes on Olympic ideals, fostering a generation of youth well-versed in these values.
Discussions revolved around synergies with IOA, the ministry, Indian Olympic Association, and the rebooted National Olympic Academy. The goal: specialized training modules for coaches, sports scientists, and PE instructors to supercharge India’s sports learning infrastructure.
The Greece-based IOA, founded in 1961 in Olympia, is the global hub for Olympic studies with affiliates worldwide, now including a refreshed Indian chapter.
Karaiskou called the dialogue ‘fantastic,’ spotlighting India’s preparations for major events like the Commonwealth Games and a potential 2036 Olympics bid. She welcomed the National Olympic Academy’s revival and anticipates joint efforts to embed Olympic ethos in India.
Rao described the encounter as highly fruitful. With PM Modi’s vision driving unprecedented growth in sports, collaborations like this are vital for nurturing Olympic champions.
He detailed IOA’s prospective roles—from designing world-class syllabi and scaling training in elite institutions to administrator certifications, expert-led workshops, collaborative studies, and tech partnerships. India could also lead a worldwide conclave of National Olympic Academies, amplifying its global sports stature.
