India Advances South-South Sports Cooperation at BRICS Meeting

Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, highlighting India’s efforts to strengthen South-South sporting partnerships and use sports as a tool for development and international cooperation.

Advancing South-South Sporting Partnership!

Chaired the BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 in Visakhapatnam today.

Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, India is harnessing the power of sports for national development, youth empowerment and global cooperation.… pic.twitter.com/x1EqLcDRzH

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 23, 2026

Sharing details of the meeting on social media, Mandaviya said India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is harnessing the power of sports for national development, youth empowerment and global cooperation.

The meeting focused on a range of initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation among BRICS nations in the sports sector. Participants welcomed consensus in key areas, including sports technology, sports manufacturing and traditional and indigenous sports.

Mandaviya said the discussions marked an important step towards advancing cooperation among countries of the Global South through sports.

The proposed Sports Technology cooperation is expected to encourage greater collaboration and innovation in areas where technology can contribute to athlete development, sporting performance and the broader sports ecosystem.

The meeting also discussed a Sports Manufacturing Conclave, aimed at strengthening cooperation and opportunities in sports-related manufacturing.

Another key area of consensus was the proposed Traditional & Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games, which would provide a platform for countries to showcase and promote their traditional sporting heritage.

India’s emphasis on sports diplomacy comes as the country seeks to expand international cooperation in sports while creating greater opportunities for youth, athletes, technology companies and the wider sports industry.

The BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 in Visakhapatnam therefore underlined the growing role of sports in fostering people-to-people connections, economic opportunities and cooperation among emerging economies.