International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nita Ambani on Saturday referred to as for “Olympics of all, Olympic by all, and Olympics for all” at the opening ceremony of the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai.

Delivering the opening address at the historic event at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Nita Ambani shed light on India’s “limitless potential”, notably within the area of sports activities.

“India’s potential is limitless. In the years to return, younger Indians will excel globally in each subject of human endeavour, together with sport. This is the collective dream of 1.4 billion Indian hearts. It can be the collective dedication of 1.4 billion Indian minds… Today, we pledge to nurture and empower our 250 million school-going kids by way of the Olympic values of friendship, excellence, and respect… not simply in Indian cities but in addition within the small cities and remotest villages of India.”

Terming the IOC Session in Mumbai a “a defining moment in the history of sport in India”, Nita Ambani mentioned: “Today, allow us to recommit ourselves to the guiding rules of the Olympic Movement. And work in direction of Olympics of all, Olympics by all, and Olympics for all.”

The IOC session is being held in the country after a gap of 40 years. The last Olympic Session was held in India in 1983 in New Delhi. Mumbai had won the bid to host the IOC Session when the Indian delegation led by Nita Ambani, the first Indian woman to be elected as an IOC member, made a compelling pitch at the 139th IOC session in Beijing in February 2022.

Lauding the work done by the Narendra Modi government in development of sports and athletes, Nita Ambani in her speech said under the Prime Minister, India has also become a sporting power.

“Respected Prime Minister, we are filled with immense joy and gratitude that you have joined us today. You are the leader of the world’s largest democracy, the Architect of New India. Your support to sport has made this session in India a reality,” Mrs Ambani mentioned.

Nita Ambani additionally spoke about how the session was an excellent confluence between India and the world, saying: “In this assembly of the IOC, I see the confluence of two fantastic forces. One is the Olympic Movement, which unites humanity and transcends all nationwide, racial, spiritual, and linguistic boundaries. The different is India, the world’s largest democracy because the host of this assembly.”

“…Today, more than ever our world needs to reunite in fraternity and solidarity. This cannot happen on battlefields, it can only happen on sports fields…,” she added.

“The mantra and motto of our 5,000-year-old civilisation is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakkam, which our Prime Minister declared because the theme at India’s Presidency of the G20 Summit final month. It means — The Entire World Is One Family… Today, greater than ever, our world must reunite in fraternity and solidarity,” she said.