Nagrota, Sep 15 (JKNS): A new chapter in sports education and youth development began in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday as the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT) and Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), J&K launched their first Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) at Khel Gaon Nagrota, bringing together around 50 departmental officials from 10 districts of the Jammu Division.
Sports has always been about much more than just the final score. It is about character, resilience, the grace of fair play and the bonds forged on the field.
Bringing this core philosophy to life, a transformative three-day Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) kicked off on Tuesday at the vibrant expanse of Khel Gaon Nagrota, bringing together passionate departmental officials from across ten districts of the Jammu Division.
Crucially, anchoring this movement under the institutional vision of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust brings an unmatched standard of dedication to the region. Benefiting from the legacy and mentorship of an athlete of Abhinav Bindra’s peerless stature, India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, inspires educators and young aspirants alike, proving that true sporting excellence is built upon an unyielding bedrock of discipline, humility, and vision. Programs of this magnitude hold profound relevance for contemporary youth development, shifting the paradigm of sports from mere physical competition to a vital instrument of holistic life-skill cultivation and character building.
This milestone event marks the very first program held under a landmark partnership between the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, J&K and the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT).
A vital collaboration officially signed between the two through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the approval from the competent authority.
The copies of MOU were exchanged on the eve of National Sports Day in the presence of Lieutenant Governor of J&K Sh. Manoj Sinha and other dignitaries.
Operating under the visionary patronage of Director General Anuradha Gupta, this capacity building initiative brings together around fifty dedicated in-service officials to immerse themselves in a curriculum designed to redefine how sports are taught and experienced.
The opening day set an inspiring tone as Additional Secretary Tina Mahajan and Accounts Officer Vishesh Kapoor interacted with the participants, warmly encouraging them to champion the initiative’s core mission. They were welcomed by Nodal Officer and DYSSO Jammu, Sukhdev Raj Sharma, setting the stage for days of collaborative learning.
At its heart, this partnership, formalized via the pro-bono MoU aims to nurture a culture of holistic growth. The Directorate extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation from ABFT, including Associate Vice President Karan Singh, Head of Social Impact Initiative Amit Malik, Programme Lead for North and East Nikita Bora and Project Coordinator Debashish Swain.
Learning to Lead with Purpose
Operating under the guiding theme “Train the Trainers,” the three-day workshop goes far beyond conventional training. It is designed to create an empowered pool of mentors who will carry these lessons forward, touching the lives of young athletes across every corner of the Union Territory.
Through a blend of interactive sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and experiential learning, participants are exploring innovative ways to weave the foundational Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect into everyday coaching.
The curriculum equips mentors with practical tools to foster teamwork, discipline, leadership & a healthy competitive spirit ensuring that every playground becomes a classroom for life skills.
A Movement Stretching Across the Region
As this first batch sets the momentum in the Jammu Division, the journey is only just beginning.
The second batch, dedicated to the Kashmir Division, is eagerly lined up to commence next month, ensuring that this wave of values-based sports education reaches seamlessly across all of Jammu and Kashmir.
Over the next three days at Khel Gaon Nagrota, these fifty educators and officials will not just learn methods, they will help shape a more inclusive, positive and inspiring sporting future for the youth of J&K. (JKNS)
