Melbourne: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday jointly unveiled the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap during a special event at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), marking a new chapter in sporting cooperation between the two countries.
The event, attended by Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan and Australian cricket legends Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, celebrated the strong sporting and people-to-people ties that form an important pillar of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The newly launched roadmap aims to strengthen collaboration in sports training, capacity building, sports science and technology, sports industry, and investment. It also proposes the organisation of an India-Australia Youth Sports Festival to deepen sporting exchanges between young athletes.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi said sports have the unique ability to unite people across cultures and expressed confidence that the roadmap would broaden and diversify the sporting partnership between the two nations.
He congratulated Australia on winning the Women’s Cricket World Cup and noted that both countries are entering a significant decade in global sports, with India set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia hosting the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Modi said these major international events provide natural opportunities for closer cooperation in sports, sports infrastructure and related industries.
During the visit, the two Prime Ministers also interacted with young athletes participating in exhibition matches of Kabaddi, Australian Rules Football and cricket, highlighting the growing exchange of sporting cultures between India and Australia.
The visit underscored the expanding partnership between the two countries in sports, cultural exchanges and people-to-people engagement.
