New Delhi :29th August is celebrated as National Sports Day in India. It is the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand who is one of the most respected legendary figures in Indian and world hockey. The President gives away sport-related awards such as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award on this day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, India to sports achievers and coaches across various sporting fields.
Uptil now, no major formal programmes are organized on this day except distribution of awards to elite sports persons.
Sports give us a sense of identity and national pride. To highlight the importance of this day and to attract the mass attention there by taking small steps to create awareness about sports in the country, The Federation of Indian chambers of commerce and industry (FICCI) is for the first time in the history of India has taken an initiative to celebrate this important day.
On this momentous occasion of National Sports Day a get together of important personalities from Government, sports fraternity and India Inc is being organized at FICCI to show India’s commitment to promote sports culture in the country.
FICCI has planned similar activities in multiple cities/ places throughout India to be carried out simultaneously on 29th Aug, 2014 with the support of important organizations like Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, All India Council of Physical Education, Association of Indian Universities and other major stakeholders
The common thread binding the nationwide celebrations are message to the nation of Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, an Oath Ceremony by the gathering, and a similar back drop. A press release is expected to be released later.
