Vishakhapatnam |Aug, 23:Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Sunday led a BRICS Friendship Cycling Event in Visakhapatnam as part of the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, organised alongside the BRICS Youth and Sports Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India.
Ministers and Heads of Departments from Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE, Iran and South Africa joined the cycling event, highlighting friendship, cooperation and sporting ties among BRICS nations.
The event was held under the theme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’.
Dr Mandaviya said the Fit India Movement envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was steadily expanding across the country, with cycling activities being organised at more than 18,000 locations.
He highlighted cycling’s benefits for physical fitness, reducing traffic congestion and pollution, conserving fuel and contributing to foreign exchange savings.
“Let us all stay fit to build a developed India,” Mandaviya said.
The visiting dignitaries appreciated the nationwide scale of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative and congratulated Mandaviya for taking the cycling movement to communities across the country.
Mandaviya said fitness was fundamental to building a healthy and prosperous society, urging people to make cycling a regular Sunday activity.
The 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle was organised across the country, including in New Delhi, Leh, Kargil and Port Blair. Participants also took the NashaMukt Bharat pledge, reaffirming their commitment to combating substance abuse and promoting healthy lifestyles among youth.
In New Delhi, a mega event was organised at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, where more than 1,000 citizens participated in yoga, zumba and rope-skipping activities from 5:30 am, followed by a 5-km cycling ride around India Gate.
Former Indian Handball team captain and coach Naveen Punia and zumba and dance choreographer ShivikaAshvine participated as special guests. A dedicated game zone featuring carrom, chess, badminton, tug of war and an obstacle race was also organised for participants aged between five and 85 years.
Fit India Sundays on Cycle is an initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Fit India Movement, organised in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India, Raahgiri Foundation and MY Bharat.
The cycling drive is conducted simultaneously across all States and Union Territories at SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India State Centres of Excellence and Khelo India Centres.
