By Our Correspondent<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NEW DELHI, JUN 20 : The International Olympic Committee (IOC)\u2019s global movement campaign \u201cLet\u2019s Move\u201d returns to India this Olympic Day (23 June) with its new edition, \u201cLet\u2019s Move +1\u201d, in partnership with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation andthe Reliance Foundation. This year\u2019s theme focuses on the joy and motivation of moving together\u2014inviting people across India to experience the power of sport to boost both physical and mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marking Olympic Day on 23 June, the campaign shines a spotlight on the benefits of playing sport or working out with someone else\u2014encouraging people to take the first step and bring a friend, sibling, colleague, or family member along. As part of the celebrations, over 50 sports venues across India will open their doors to the public for free paired sessions in sports such as football, padel, cricket, badminton and pickleball. Anyone can take part\u2014just bring your +1 and move together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly 50 per centof adults in India, and 81 per cent of young people globally, are failing to reach the recommended activity levels for optimal health (World Health Organization, 2024). Taking part in physical activities with others can help people start moving and keep going \u2013 through shared goals, encouragement, and enjoyment. Sport is more than moving, it is also an opportunity to spend time with others, connect and build community. This can create a sense of belonging and help fight loneliness \u2013 something the WHO has identified as a growing concern for people\u2019s health \u2013 and support mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), schools across the nation are invited to join the movement. Through OVEP, in collaboration with the IOC and the governments of Chandigarh UT, Odisha and Assam, the Abhinav Bindra Foundation initiative has already positively impacted over 10million children by enhancing physical activity, gender inclusivity and educational outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This summer, more than12 million schoolchildren are expected to take part across Chandigarh, Odisha, and Assam \u2013 including practising teamwork and balance through paired yoga, and rhythm and coordination through group dance sessions. There will be a variety of sports and movement activities to try, includingskipping, football, cricket, volleyball and kho-kho \u2013 together with Olympic-themed arts and crafts on 23 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olympic gold medallist in shooting at Beijing 2008 and IOC Athletes\u2019 Commission member Abhinav Bindra said: \u201cThrough the Olympic Values Education Programme in Chandigarh, Assam and Odisha, and the inaugural \u2018Let\u2019s Move\u2019 campaign in India, we have witnessed how sport can inspire, uplift, and empower the next generation. \u2018Let\u2019s Move +1\u2019 carries this spirit forward, reminding us that sport is not just about physical strength\u2014it is about fostering connection, mutual support, and a shared sense of purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Reliance Foundation, as part of its commitment to OVEP, will be curating a number of initiatives to get more young people moving. These include activating their network of schools with fun \u201cLet\u2019s Move\u201d activities. A special Olympic Day celebration on 23 June will see 1,450 schoolchildrenmove and interact with Olympians, including celebrated archers Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSport has shaped who I am \u2013 it\u2019s given me strength, taught me resilience, and opened opportunities. It has also shown me the value of having someone in your corner \u2013 to lift you up, to help you focus, to bring joy to the journey. That\u2019s why I am excited to pay it forward by inviting young people to move with me, and share everything that sport brings,\u201d said Reliance Foundation-supported athlete and four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s Move\u201d launched in collaboration with the WHO on Olympic Day 2023, aiming to create encouragement and opportunities to move more. It forms part of the Olympic Movement\u2019s mission to make the world a better place through sport, setting out to highlight the positive impact that sport and fitness have on physical and mental health. Through local physical and digital activations, and partnerships with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation and Reliance Foundation and their ongoing OVEP initiatives, \u201cLet\u2019s Move\u201d has already engaged over 20 million people in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s Move?\u201d is the theme of Olympic Day, the global celebration of sport and getting active that takes place on 23 June each year to commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Games in 1894. It will continue beyond Olympic Day, with the ambition, along with the support of the Olympic Movement, to continue to inspire and enable people to move and enjoy physical activity through resources, activations, and content.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Our Correspondent NEW DELHI, JUN 20 : The International Olympic Committee (IOC)\u2019s global movement campaign \u201cLet\u2019s Move\u201d returns to India this Olympic Day (23 June) with its new edition,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":138618,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[21589,63],"class_list":["post-138617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories","tag-international-olympic-committee-ioc","tag-new-delhi"],"yoast_head":"\n