New Delhi: In a bid to deepen sports co-operation between the two nations, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) on Wednesday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi.
The MoU sets out a structured framework for joint promotion of sports, exchange of technical expertise, and reciprocal access to each country’s elite training infrastructure and high-performance centres for athletes, coaches, and sports science professionals.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, alongside IOA President Dr. PT Usha and CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, reflecting strong governmental and institutional support for deeper sporting ties.
Under the agreement, both organisations will facilitate exchanges of knowledge and best practices, allow athletes and support staff to use top-tier training facilities in each country, and promote collaborative programmes aimed at raising competitive standards. IOA leadership described the partnership as a major opportunity for Indian athletes to benefit from Italy’s established high-performance systems, while CONI emphasised the mutual advantages of sharing expertise and infrastructure to build long-term sporting excellence.
The MoU signals a strategic commitment by India and Italy to strengthen sporting links and foster sustained co-operation that supports athlete development, coaching advancement, and sports science collaboration.
