India is planning to host the BRICS Games in 2021 along with the Khelo India Youth Games. The announcement was made after the Indian Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju attended a meeting with the Sports Ministers from the BRICS nations. India will also take up the chairmanship of the five-nation independent international group in 2021.
“BRICS Games 2021 will be held during same time and at same venues as of Khelo India Games 2021 so that our players from various parts of the country who will gather for Khelo India Games will have the benefit of witnessing BRICS Games from close quarters. This will be a great morale booster and motivational moment for them,” Indian Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju, said in a statement.
He further added, “We are hopeful of organising Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games in 2021. During Khelo India Youth Games 2021, we will invite BRICS member countries to showcase their traditional indigenous games during the inaugural or closing ceremony of Khelo India.”
The BRICS Games were planned at the 8th BRICS Summit which was held in Goa, India in the year 2016. While the first edition of the BRICS Games was held in Guangzhou, China in the following year.
India with this decision to host the games, is interested to match its growing economic power with a higher sporting profile and in the process to achieve this has already submitted bids for a number of upcoming sporting events.
IOA has already shown interest towards hosting the 2032 Olympics for which it has officially submitted a letter of interest to the IOC of its intention to bid for the 2032 Olympics in December 2018.
Other than this, India has also tendered bid documents to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. If the country succeeds, it would be the biggest football tournament it has ever hosted.