The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Bach and Prime Minister Modi noted with concern, the rising trend of conflict, civil war and terrorism around the world. They agreed that sports is a powerful unifying force that can unite humanity and society. The Prime Minister said sports is essential for any country to inculcate sportsman spirit among its citizens, which serves as a strong bond for the society.
The Prime Minister spoke of India's humanitarian approach in dealing with recent tragic incidents in the neighbourhood, including the earthquake in Nepal. The Prime Minister also mentioned how India had assisted in the evacuation of citizens of 48 countries, including Yemen. He said India is the world's youngest country, and has the maximum potential for growth of sports. The Prime Minister sought the IOC President's support in making India a hub of sports infrastructure, sports technology, and sports equipment manufacturing. The Prime Minister expressed his intention to promote India on the global sports map.