India’s first particular person Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Sunday expressed the hope that India will get to host the Olympic Games within the close to future.

Speaking on the sidelines of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) 141st Session right here, Bindra, the winner of the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold in 10m air rifle, mentioned, “I hope we get to host the Olympic Games in the near future.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Saturday asserted, whereas declaring the IOC Session open, that India will depart “no stone unturned” in its efforts to organise the 2036 Olympics.

Modi had additionally mentioned that India needs to host the 2029 Youth Olympics.

Speaking on the Olympic Value Education Program (OVEP) launched in Odisha final 12 months, Bindra, whereas addressing the IOC Session on Sunday, mentioned that greater than 15,000 ladies had taken up sports activities for the primary time following the launch of the initiative within the state.

He mentioned that following the launch of the OVEP, the scholars’ attendance too had gone up by 12 per cent.

“Thanks to OVEP, students’ attendance is up by 12 per cent, and over 15,000 girls have taken part in sport for the first time,” mentioned Bindra, who was India’s solely particular person gold medallist till javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra entered the unique membership by profitable gold on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The OVEP is a programme funded by the IOC and was launched by the Abhinav Bindra Foundation (ABF) in India final 12 months. Bindra mentioned it has the potential to achieve seven million kids in Odisha, a quantity confirmed by IOC president Thomas Bach as effectively.

Bindra, who can also be a member of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission, added that the programme may even guarantee participation of extra girls and boys in blended occasions.

“Mixed-gender games (mixed team events) are now common; they foster safe interactions between girls and boys and create an environment of learning and respect,” Bindra mentioned.

“Physical activity has increased by 50 per cent among OVEP participants, and seven million children across Odisha have participated in the recent ‘Let’s Move Campaign’,” he added.

The IOC perceives OVEP as a serious a part of its Olympism365 initiative, which is about growing entry to sport and “bring the health and societal benefits of physical activity to communities”.