The role of IOC member Nita Ambani has been profound in bringing the International Olympic Committee session to India after a gap of 40 years. The IOC session is the supreme decision-making body of the Olympic movement. It is here that key activities of the global Olympics movement, including adoption or amendment of the Olympic Charter, election of IOC members and office-bearers and election of the host city of Olympics are discussed and decided.
Since being elected as an IOC member in 2016 — the first Indian woman to be elected to the body — Nita Ambani has been at the forefront of championing India’s potential as a sports powerhouse.
At the 139the IOC Session held in Beijing in February 2022, the Indian delegation led by Mrs Ambani made a compelling pitch for Mumbai to host the 2023 IOC session, following which the financial capital of India received overwhelming endorsement for its bid with 99% of the votes.
Nita Ambani, who has championed the advancement of youth sports in India as the Chairperson of Reliance Foundation whose sporting initiatives have reached 2.15 crore youngsters across the country, had described the successful bid as a “significant development” for India’s Olympic aspirations.
“The Olympic Movement is back to India after a 40-year wait! I am truly grateful to the International Olympic Committee for entrusting India with the honour of hosting the IOC Session in Mumbai in 2023,” she had said once Mumbai’s winning bid was confirmed. “This will be a significant development for India’s Olympic aspiration and will herald the start of a new era for Indian sport.”
Bringing new perspective and skills to the organization, Mrs Ambani has been appointed to several IOC commissions since her election as an IOC member — Olympic Channel (2017-present), Olympic Education (2017-present), and Culture and Olympic Heritage (2020-present).
The Reliance Foundation chaired by Nita Ambani also remains committed to empowering athletes from the grassroots to the elite stage. As many as 11 out of 19 Reliance Foundation athletes have won medals at this year’s Asian Games, comprising nearly 13% of India’s total medal tally.
Speaking at the Executive Committee meeting on October 12 ahead of the Mumbai Session, IOC President Thomas Bach also lauded the efforts of Reliance Foundation and IOC member Nita Ambani towards the Olympic and sporting movement in India.
“Together with our IOC colleague and friend Nita Ambani, I visited Reliance Foundation and the programmes they’re offering there to the kids and youth with regard to their sport and education. And I must say, I am really deeply impressed by what is being done there by Reliance and her team, because you see there are kids from all over India at this centre. Most of them are from underprivileged families,” Bach said.
“The children are being offered school education but, at the same time, are being given the opportunity to train to become athletes. This is something that is exactly reflecting our Olympic values and our approach. To see that it is being done by a private entity, which is the Reliance Foundation, is very, very impressive and very encouraging,” he added.
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