India will win hearts with their conduct in Rio: Modi

Extending best wishes to the Indian contingents who would be representing India at the Rio Olympics 2016 scheduled to begin on August 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the nation to encourage them through “Mann Ki Baat” programme.

“This year your PM is ready to become your postman, share your best wishes to the athletes on the Narendra Modi App,” he said.

“We extend our best wishes to the Indian contingents who will be representing India at Rio, this year,” he added.

Prime Minister flagged off the “Run for Rio” at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium to celebrate the Olympic mood in the country. “India has been associated with the Olympic Games for over 100 years but only this year we were able to send 119 sportspersons to Rio,” he said, adding that the entire contingent was prepared well and government took special care of their training. Conveying his best wishes for the Rio Olympics, the Prime Minister said the games give a message of brotherhood. “Sports are a necessity of life. Let everyone play and shine,” he added. PM also asserted that the BJP-led NDA Government at the centre in the last two years has so far focused tremendously on sports. Speaking about how  players need time to settle down in new conditions of a host country, he said the sportspersons need time to come out of the jet lag and that is why India sent its contingent to Rio well in advance.

“We allotted special budget for their diet and training this time around,” he said, adding that players were asked where and under whom would they like to be trained, and all arrangements were made accordingly for every selected individual with government spending from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 1.50 crore on a player.

Prime Minister also said that sports cannot be evaluated in loss or win, adding that the players fight for the pride of the nation which is the biggest challenge. “Every player has worked hard to get here. They will surely give their best. This time it is 119. Let’s make this resolution to make it more than 200 the next time,” he asserted.

The Prime Minister also urged people to start preparing for the next Olympic Games, to be held in Tokyo in 2020, saying every district of the country must send a sportsperson to the international games.

Wishing the Indian contingent in the Rio Olympic, Modi said that Indian athletes would win the hearts of the world and as India celebrates its 70th anniversary of independence on August 15, the tricolour will also be going up in Rio as they perform well in the international event.