Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Jammu and Kashmir is on its way to become a major winter sports hub, helping India to develop a new sporting ecosystem and talent for the Winter Olympics. While delivering the inaugural address at the second Khelo India National Winter Games which began in Gulmarg today, the PM exhorted young sportspersons to remember that they are the brand ambassadors of Aatmnirbhar Bharat.

Conveying his best wishes to the players of J&K and the rest of the country through a virtual address, the PM said that the number of participants has doubled from last edition which demonstrates the increasing enthusiasm towards winter games. He said that the event would also instill a new spirit and enthusiasm in the tourism sector in the erstwhile state.

The Prime Minister said there is a holistic approach being followed from the Khelo India campaign to the Olympic podium with the government recognising the talent at grassroot level and taking them to the highest global platform. He said that from talent recognition to team selection, transparency is the government’s priority.

He asserted that sports has been given a place of pride in the recent National Education Policy and is treated as part of the curriculum now from being considered an extra-curricular activity earlier. He emphasized the need to take sports sciences and sports management to the school level as that will improve the career prospects of the youth and will enhance India's presence in the sports economy.