Kangra Celebrates International Olympic Day with Enthusiastic Sports Gathering

The District Kangra Olympic Association celebrated International Olympic Day with a vibrant event that brought together sports enthusiasts, athletes, and dignitaries. Chief guest Kumar Sumit emphasized the importance of sports in promoting a healthy lifestyle and urged youth to avoid social evils like drug abuse. The event highlighted India's achievements in sports and the government's initiatives to support athletes. With a call to action for young people to engage in sports, the gathering aimed to foster a culture of discipline and unity through athletics. This celebration is part of a global tradition that began in 1948, encouraging participation in sports worldwide.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 23, 2026, 20:07 IST

Kangra's Olympic Day Celebration

TNR News Network
Kangra

In honor of International Olympic Day, the District Kangra Olympic Association hosted a vibrant event that united sports lovers, athletes, coaches, and representatives from various sports bodies. The gathering was honored by the presence of Kumar Sumit, a member of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association and former secretary of HPCA, who served as the chief guest. The event also featured speeches from Association President and Basketball Federation State President Munish Sharma, along with former Zila Parishad Chairman Ramesh Barar.

Munish Sharma welcomed all attendees, emphasizing the importance of the occasion, while Satyender offered greetings to the chief guest and other dignitaries.

Kumar Sumit addressed the youth, urging them to steer clear of social issues like drug addiction and to embrace sports as a lifestyle choice. He highlighted that engaging in sports not only promotes physical health but also fosters discipline, confidence, leadership, and a positive mindset. He encouraged young athletes to transcend barriers of caste, region, and narrow-minded ideologies, aspiring to become professional competitors on the world stage.

Sumit pointed out that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) emblem represents unity, sportsmanship, and global brotherhood. He remarked that the Olympic movement seeks to unite nations, cultures, and communities through sports, fostering peace, collaboration, and goodwill. He stated, “Sports serve as a powerful tool to keep youth away from drugs and other societal issues.”

He praised India's advancements in sports under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, commending initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), led by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, which has equipped Indian athletes with world-class facilities. He acknowledged the contributions of sports legends such as Rahul Dravid and Abhinav Bindra in mentoring young talent. Additionally, he noted that programs like Khelo India and Fit India have significantly enriched the sports culture in the country, engaging millions of youth and nurturing future champions.

Citing notable achievements, Sumit highlighted India's medal counts: 66 and 61 medals at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, respectively, 70 medals at the 2018 Asian Games, and a record 107 medals in the 2022 edition. He also commended India's improving performance in the Paralympics.

While acknowledging the progress made, Sumit emphasized the need for continued efforts. He appreciated former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur's initiative to allocate 3% reservation in government jobs for exceptional athletes and to increase the sports budget. He also welcomed the current government's decision to raise prize money for winners of the Olympic, Asian, and Commonwealth Games.

He reminded attendees that International Olympic Day was first celebrated in 1948 across nine countries, and since 1987, it has been recognized globally with Olympic Day Runs and various sports activities. The Kangra Olympic Association's event was part of this worldwide celebration.

The event concluded with a strong message encouraging youth to engage in sports, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and bring honor to both the nation and the state. Association officials expressed their gratitude to all participants and reaffirmed their dedication to promoting sports awareness.

Notable attendees included District Olympic Association President Satyender Trehan, HPCA Joint Secretary Vishal Sharma, Vivek Dhiman, Varinder Chaudhary, ZP member Ishan and Vinod Barar, Shubham (Councillor), Vinod Sharma, Suresh, Rinku Chaudhary, Mona Walia, Charanjit Purewal, Pawan Kumar, and Sanjeev Ratna.