On Sunday, the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Narangpura, Ahmedabad, was officially opened by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. The state-of-the-art facility, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 825 crore, was dedicated to the country as part of Gujarat’s efforts to build top-notch sports facilities and work toward the goal of hosting the 2036 Olympics.
Along with MPs, MLAs, officials, athletes, coaches, and sports representatives, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, Minister of State for Sports Harsh Sanghavi, and Mayor Pratibha Jain attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Amit Shah emphasized that sports represent the “soul of India” and that the nation should strive for success in the sport because of its youthful population. He emphasized the changes made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the past ten years, such as improved training, new facilities, open selection procedures, and more chances for athletes to compete internationally.
In recalling the legacy of Veer Savarkar, the Home Minister mentioned that the revolutionary was a skilled swimmer who once jumped off a steamboat to get out of British captivity. Athletes participating at the facility would be motivated to win medals for the nation, he said, adding that naming the complex after Savarkar honors his bravery and sacrifice.
He also emphasized how Ahmedabad has become a major sports hub, home to important venues like the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave, the Narendra Modi Stadium, and the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. He said that programs like Khelo India are increasing chances for sportsmen, and that the sports budget has increased from Rs 1,643 crore ten years ago to Rs 5,300 crore. Global competitiveness and mass participation are two of the five pillars that support the new National Sports Policy, he noted.
Shah claims that India has improved significantly in global competitions. The nation won 20 Olympic medals between 1947 and 2012, and 15 in the last eight years alone. The number of medals climbed from 8 to 52 in the Paralympics and from 2 to 22 in the Deaflympics. He restated the government’s commitment to hosting the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad and said that the city would hold international events for police and fire personnel in 2029, with approval for the 2030 Commonwealth Games anticipated shortly after.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel thanked the government for approving the project and called it a “new era” for Gujarati sports. He pointed out that there are already 23 operating complexes spread across 21 districts and that the state’s sports budget is Rs 486 crore. Patel affirmed Gujarat’s preparedness to host significant international competitions by highlighting future initiatives like the 233-acre Sardar Patel Sports Enclave and a Para Athlete High-Performance Center.
The opening of the biggest sports facility in the country was praised as a proud occasion by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who also stated that it will be crucial to achieving the Prime Minister’s goal of a “Viksit Bharat.” The complex has already held the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship and will shortly hold the Asian Aquatics Competition, according to State Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
The Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, which has an Aquatics Stadium, a Sports Center of Excellence, an Indoor Multi-Sports Arena, Outdoor Courts, a Community Sports Center, and a Fit India Zone, provides athletes and the general public with possibilities for yoga, fitness, coaching, and training.
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