The Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, along with Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya, today, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Abhinav Bindra Foundation for the official launch of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) in schools across Meghalaya.
The OVEP is a global initiative that harnesses the power of sport and Olympism to instil the values of excellence, respect, and friendship among youth while promoting life skills, holistic development, and community well-being.
The MOU signing took place in the presence of Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister; Dr Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Sports & Youth Affairs department; Shri D.D Shira, MCS, Director, Sports & Youth Affairs department; Shri Banteilang J. Kharshandi, MCS, Director of School Education and Literacy, Education department; other senior officials and Shri Abhinav Bindra, Olympic Gold Medallist and Founder of Abhinav Bindra Foundation.
Terming the programme as a meaningful and game-changing programme, Shri Conrad K Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya said, “We always strive to keep the youth at the centre of our decision-making. Every policy we create, every program we do is to ensure that the youth come out as responsible and productive citizens of our state and our nation.”
He further said that the MoU signed today will help shape the youth not only from the sporting aspect but also other values of excellence, friendship, and respect. Additionally, the Hon’ble Chief Minister added, “Youth comprise approximately 50 percent of the population in Meghalaya. So, it is very crucial for the state to ensure that we invest in our youth. Whether they are in sports or not, or they become athletes or not, the values that they will get from this programme will be inculcated in them and will help them in every walk of their lives,” he added.
Shri Abhinav Bindra, Olympic Gold Medallist & Founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, stressed on the importance of sports which can teach the youth about humility, resilience, teamwork, respect and self-respect stating that these are what the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) plans to do. “Through experiential learning, and through sports, we hope to inculcate these values in all these youths, so they become successful in all that they do.”
The OVEP in Meghalaya will consciously integrate traditional indigenous sports and cultural activities to make the programme relatable and meaningful for students. Beyond classrooms, the programme will involve parents, community leaders, and local youth groups, creating a shared sense of ownership and ensuring that Olympic values reach the wider community.
A strong focus of OVEP in Meghalaya will be to ensure inclusivity, by reaching children from marginalised communities and students with disabilities. Through this programme, teachers will be trained and equipped with tools to cater to activities to the diverse needs, ensuring that every student benefits from the learning through sport.
The launch of OVEP in Meghalaya is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes experiential learning, sports integration, and holistic child development. With the state’s abundant access to community playgrounds and open fields, OVEP will build on existing strengths to create a culture of physical activity and value-based education. The collaboration between the Government of Meghalaya, ABFT, ensures that the programme will have both global expertise and local relevance.
