BRICS Sports Ministers Discuss Stronger Cooperation During Visakhapatnam Meeting

The BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 concluded in Visakhapatnam with member states adopting the BRICS Sports Joint Declaration by consensus, reaffirming their commitment to stronger cooperation through dialogue, mutual respect and inclusiveness. The meeting was held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 and brought together sports ministers and senior representatives from member countries to discuss priorities for sports development and international collaboration. The discussions focused on creating practical avenues for cooperation beyond formal declarations.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya called for the creation of a BRICS Sporting Partnership that could translate the shared vision of member states into tangible programmes. He proposed greater collaboration through athlete and coach exchanges, joint competitions and the sharing of sports science expertise. Mandaviya also highlighted the role of sport in nation-building and said India was working to expand opportunities for athletes from the grassroots level to the international podium. He stressed that stronger institutional cooperation could help develop sporting ecosystems across BRICS countries.

Three major initiatives were advanced during India’s chairship to deepen cooperation. A proposed BRICS Working Group will focus on sports science, athlete performance, governance, artificial intelligence, digital transformation and innovation, with India contributing expertise across various sporting fields. India’s proposal for a BRICS Sports Manufacturing Conclave also received broad support, with Udaipur in Rajasthan proposed as the venue for its first edition in November 2026. The conclave is expected to address technology, quality standards, trade, investment and resilient sports manufacturing supply chains.

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Another initiative is the proposed BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games, scheduled to be hosted in Ahmedabad on October 12-13. The non-competitive event is intended to showcase and preserve the traditional sporting heritage of participating countries while encouraging cultural exchange and people-to-people connections. Organisers also plan to facilitate voluntary participation by athletes and practitioners, where feasible, with cultural sensitivity and mutual-respect frameworks guiding the activities. The initiative is aimed at recognising the cultural importance and traditional knowledge associated with indigenous sports.

Mandaviya also highlighted India’s efforts to make sport more inclusive, including initiatives promoting para-sports and greater participation of women. He said the government was also working to strengthen sports goods manufacturing and attract global manufacturers, technology companies and investors. A BRICS Friendship Cycling Event was organised in Visakhapatnam alongside the meeting as part of the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle. Ministers and representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE, Iran and South Africa joined the event, underlining the role of sport in promoting fitness and healthy lifestyles.

The participating delegations reaffirmed the importance of sport in youth development, inclusion, cultural exchange and international cooperation. Mandaviya thanked the member countries for their participation and expressed confidence that the agreements reached during India’s chairship would lead to sustained sporting collaboration. The outcomes of the Visakhapatnam meeting are aligned with India’s broader BRICS Chairship theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” with member states seeking to convert shared commitments into practical sporting initiatives.

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