IOC Session in India: Reliance Foundation’s work reflects our Olympic values, says president Thomas Bach

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach Thursday praised Reliance Foundation and IOC member Nita Ambani for the work done towards making India a sporting nation. Bach, who was speaking at the IOC Executive Board meeting at the Jio World Convention Centre, in Mumbai, added that the work done by Nita Ambani, the first woman to be elected as an IOC Member from the country, and Reliance Foundation reflects the Olympic values. IOC Session:  Everything you need to know about the meeting in Mumbai “I had a visit together with our IOC colleague and friend Nita Ambani to their Reliance Foundation and the programmes they’re offering there to the kids and youth with regard to sport and education. I’m really deeply impressed by Reliance and her team because you see kids from all over India in this centre. And most of them are coming from underprivileged families and they are being offered education and schooling. But at the same time, they are given the opportunity to train and to prepare for becoming an athlete, a high-level athlete,” Mr Bach said. “This is something that exactly reflects our Olympic values and our approach, which we have in our strategies. But to see it on such a scale and being done, you know, by a private entity, which is the Reliance Foundation, guided by our colleague – that’s really very, very impressive and very encouraging also for the future of sport, of Olympic sport in India,” Mr Bach added. Earlier this week, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) along with the Olympic Museum had aligned with Reliance Foundation to build on the success of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) in India and signed a new cooperation agreement. The agreement underscores the organisations’ shared priority to promote Olympic values through sport among young people. IOC Session: Nita and Mukesh Ambani host president Thomas Bach The new cooperation was agreed upon by IOC President Thomas Bach and Nita Ambani, IOC Member in India and Reliance Foundation Founder Chairperson, during their visit to the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) football academy in Mumbai, which Mr Bach alluded to. Bach, in his opening remarks at the IOC Executive Board meeting, also said that the Olympic spirit is growing in India. “We could see and realise that the Olympic spirit in India is waking up, is growing. We have seen very positive results for the Indian team at the Asian Games in Hangzhou with a record number of medals (107) they won. In social media, India has the second most followers for Olympic social media handles. This shows great interest in particular the young generation in India has in the Olympic movement,” Bach said. IOC Session: How India won the hosting rights The Executive Board meeting will be followed by the 141st IOC session will take place from 15 to 17 October in Mumbai. The main topic of the decision during the event will be regarding host cities for upcoming events, inclusion or exclusion of sports and federations and changes in the Olympic Charter are made at the IOC Sessions. These sessions are held by the IOC’s supreme organ and decisions made at these meetings are final. More than 600 members of the sporting world’s elite are attending this IOC session in Mumbai. Disclaimer: Firstpost is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.