Amit Shah Inaugurates Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad to Boost India’s Olympic Dreams
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah kicked off the impressive Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Narangpura, Ahmedabad, on Sunday. This Rs 825 crore gem stands as a top-notch facility dedicated to building world-class sports infrastructure in Gujarat. It’s all part of the big push to host the 2036 Olympics and turn India into a global sports powerhouse.
The event drew a star-studded crowd, including Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, Minister of State for Sports Harsh Sanghavi, Mayor Pratibha Jain, plus MPs, MLAs, officials, athletes, coaches, and sports leaders. Everyone gathered to celebrate this step forward for Indian sports.
In his speech, Amit Shah called sports the "soul of India." He stressed that with our massive young population, the country needs to chase excellence in every game. Shah praised the reforms over the last decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi—think modern sports infrastructure, cutting-edge training, fair selection processes, and more chances for athletes to shine on the world stage.
Shah took a moment to honor Veer Savarkar, the freedom fighter and swimming champ who once jumped off a British steamboat to escape captivity. Naming the complex after him, Shah said, pays tribute to his bravery and sacrifice. "Athletes training here will draw inspiration from Savarkar to bag medals for India," he added.
He spotlighted Ahmedabad’s rise as a sports hub, home to giants like Narendra Modi Stadium and Sardar Patel Sports Enclave. Now, the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex joins the lineup. Shah noted how the sports budget has jumped from Rs 1,643 crore a decade ago to Rs 5,300 crore today. Programs like Khelo India are opening doors for more athletes, and the new National Sports Policy focuses on five key areas: mass participation, elite training, and competing globally.
India’s international success tells the story. From 1947 to 2012, we grabbed just 20 Olympic medals. But in the last eight years, we’ve won 15 already. Paralympics medals soared from 8 to 52, and Deaflympics from 2 to 22. Shah dropped exciting news: Ahmedabad will host global meets for police and fire personnel in 2029. Approval for the 2030 Commonwealth Games is coming soon, and the government is all-in on landing the 2036 Olympics.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel thanked the center and state governments for greenlighting the project. He called it a "new era" for sports in Gujarat, where the state budget now hits Rs 486 crore. With 23 sports complexes running in 21 districts, Gujarat is geared up. Patel highlighted upcoming wins like the 233-acre Sardar Patel Sports Enclave and a Para Athlete High-Performance Center, proving the state is ready for major global events.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya beamed with pride over inaugurating India’s largest sports complex. He said it perfectly aligns with PM Modi’s vision of a "Viksit Bharat" or developed India. Minister of State Harsh Sanghavi added that the complex already hosted the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship and will soon welcome the Asian Aquatics Competition.
Packed with features, the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex includes an Aquatics Stadium, Sports Center of Excellence, Indoor Multi-Sports Arena, outdoor courts, a Community Sports Center, and a Fit India Zone. It offers top training, coaching, fitness sessions, and yoga for athletes and everyday folks alike—making sports accessible to all.
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