Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese jointly launched the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday.
The initiative aims to deepen cooperation in sports development, coaching, sports science, technology and infrastructure, adding a new dimension to the growing partnership between the two countries.
The launch event brought together Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and celebrated sporting figures, including Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said visiting the Melbourne Cricket Ground with Prime Minister Albanese was a memorable experience and noted that sport continues to unite the people of both nations.
Sport is a key pillar of the India-Australia partnership, bringing our people closer through shared passion and mutual respect.
Delighted to visit the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with PM Albanese.
More sporting exchanges, youth engagement and collaboration can… pic.twitter.com/o90MSPIswm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2026
Speaking at the iconic venue, PM Modi said every Indian associates the MCG with memorable India-Australia cricket encounters. He remarked that cricket has evolved into a common passion shared by both countries and serves as a symbol of the friendship between their people.
The Prime Minister said the newly launched roadmap would encourage cooperation beyond cricket by creating opportunities across a wide range of sporting disciplines.
PM Modi said both nations would expand collaboration in sports science, athlete training, coaching methods and emerging technologies, while also strengthening institutional partnerships. He added that India’s sporting ecosystem has become more inclusive, allowing talented athletes from villages and smaller towns to compete at the highest level.
Referring to the Khelo India programme, Prime Minister Modi said the initiative has helped discover and nurture sporting talent from across the country by providing young athletes with improved opportunities and support.
The Prime Minister said future international events would further strengthen sporting cooperation between India and Australia. He noted that India is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is pursuing a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, while Brisbane will stage the 2032 Olympics.
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