Australian High Commission
New Delhi
India, Bhutan

Australian High Commissioner visits NIS Patiala to advance the Australia-India Sports Partnership

PA/07/17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               5 May 2017

Australian High Commissioner visits NIS Patiala to advance the Australia-India Sports Partnership

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Ms Harinder Sidhu, today visited the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala.

Impressed with the sports facilities at NIS, Ms Sidhu said, “Australia is a natural partner as India seeks to transform its sport ecosystem from the grassroots up to the elite level.”

“Our cooperation in sport is growing at every level - between governments, universities, sporting federations and the private sector,” she added.

Ms Sidhu held discussions with the senior sports administrators at NIS about the practical steps underway to advance the Australia-India Sports Partnership, which was launched during Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit to India last month.

NIS Patiala has recently signed an MoU with Australia’s Victoria University, which will see the latter support NIS with coach and athlete development programs and sport education courses. Another MOU strengthens ties between NIS and the Australian Institute of Sport.

Australia is also exploring ways of supporting the Indian Commonwealth Games team in preparation for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Indian athletes have been invited to train in Australia in the lead-up.

The Australia-India Sports Partnership connects Australia’s experience and expertise with India’s ambition to build its sporting capability and achieve greater Olympic success.