Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship 2024 in New Delhi. This is the first time that such an event is being organised. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Union Sports Minister, Nepal's Sports Minister Dig Bahadur Limbu, BIMSTEC High Commissioner and dignitaries from the participating countries. The BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship is being held from February 6 to 9 at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex, Delhi, in which competitions for the under 20 age group will be held in swimming, water polo and diving events.
About BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship
The BIMSTEC sub-regional organization came into existence through the Bangkok Declaration on June 6, 1997. BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship 2024 is a testament to the growing cooperation and camaraderie among the member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). With over 400 athletes and officials from seven BIMSTEC member countries participating, the championship promises to be a vibrant showcase of sporting excellence and cultural exchange.
Highlights of BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship
- The championship will not only strengthen friendship but also foster a deep sporting culture, reflecting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he announced the event during the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Nepal in 2018.
- The event, originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed to 2024 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
- In this, competitions of swimming, water polo and diving will be organized for athletes below 20 years of age.
- A total of 39 medals and 9 trophies are up for grabs across the three sporting events, in which over 500 personnel including 268 athletes from BIMSTEC member countries are expected to participate.