Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a virtual closing address on December 25 urging MPs to identify and mentor athletes in their constituencies for national and Olympic stages.
- He linked the grassroots push to hosting goals, saying India will stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and is striving to host the 2036 Olympics.
- Modi said pre-2014 irregularities in sports selection have ended and cited a sports budget above Rs 3,000 crore along with monthly athlete support of Rs 25,000–50,000.
- Organisers highlighted mass participation and inclusion, noting in Agra alone there were 34 events with 62,618 registrations and opportunities for differently-abled athletes.
- Leaders framed the festival as character-building and health-focused, with the Vice-President urging youth to avoid addiction and the PM appealing to parents to support children in sport.