NE SPORTS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 10
In a defining moment for international sports diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday unveiled the ambitious India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), setting the stage for an unprecedented expansion of bilateral cooperation in elite sports, youth development, sports science, technology, investment and major global sporting events.
Wonderful to visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground with PM Albanese. The passion for sport continues to bring the people of India and Australia closer.@AlboMP https://t.co/4agouUbx69
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2026
The high-profile event, attended by Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan and celebrated Australian sporting legends Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, highlighted sport as a powerful catalyst for strengthening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through deeper cultural engagement and people-to-people connections.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launch comprehensive India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Historic pact charts a bold vision for high-performance sports, youth exchanges, sports science, women in sports, Para sports, sports technology and multi-billion-dollar sports industries
- Roadmap leverages Ahmedabad Commonwealth Games 2030, Brisbane Olympics 2032 and India’s Olympic ambitions to deepen strategic sporting cooperation
- Annual Big Bash League matches in India, coach exchanges, university partnerships, sports innovation and manufacturing emerge as key pillars of the next phase of bilateral engagement
- Kabaddi, Kho Kho, Australian Rules Football and cricket become cultural bridges as two democracies strengthen people-to-people ties through sport
- MCG event celebrates sport as a powerful diplomatic force connecting talent, technology, business and future generations across two cricket-loving nations
The newly launched Roadmap builds upon the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding on Sports Cooperation and outlines a future-ready framework that will guide collaboration across multiple sectors during what both nations described as a “decade of sporting opportunity.”
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi underlined the unique ability of sport to unite nations and inspire future generations.
“Sports have a unique power to bring people together. This Roadmap will enable India and Australia to diversify and deepen our sporting partnership while creating new opportunities for our youth, athletes and sports industries.”
Congratulating Australia on winning the Women’s Cricket World Cup, Modi said India and Australia were entering a transformative decade in global sport.
“India and Australia are together entering a significant decade in international sports, with India hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and Australia hosting the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. These developments create natural opportunities for closer bilateral cooperation in sports and associated industries.”
The two Prime Ministers jointly released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap, which identifies five strategic pillars designed to reshape bilateral engagement.
Building High-Performance Sporting Excellence
The Roadmap envisages collaboration in establishing and operating High-Performance Sports Centres in India, strengthening Para sports, expanding coach development programmes, launching physical education exchange initiatives, promoting Yogasana, and creating scholarship opportunities for talented Indian athletes to train in Australia.
Australia’s globally acclaimed coaching ecosystem will support Indian coaches through structured “Train the Trainer” programmes, while universities from both countries will collaborate in sports education and athlete development.
Driving Innovation through Sports Science
Recognising the growing role of technology in elite performance, the two nations will encourage joint research in performance analytics, injury prevention, sports nutrition, wearable technologies, recovery sciences and Para sports.
Universities will collaborate in designing advanced sports curricula, while anti-doping agencies from both countries will strengthen cooperation through global initiatives led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Creating a Global Sporting Calendar
The Roadmap proposes deeper collaboration in hosting world-class sporting events by sharing expertise in event management and infrastructure development.
Among its most exciting initiatives is the inaugural Big Bash League (BBL) match in Chennai in December 2026, with both governments encouraging Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to work towards hosting annual BBL matches in India.
The agreement also supports exhibition matches and youth competitions featuring sports such as Kabaddi and Kho Kho in Australia and Australian Rules Football and basketball in India.
Preparations for the Ahmedabad Commonwealth Games 2030, Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032, and India’s long-term Olympic ambitions will further strengthen cooperation between sporting bodies through shared training facilities, competitions and athlete support systems.
Unlocking the Sports Economy
Beyond competition, the partnership seeks to unlock enormous economic opportunities by promoting collaboration in sports equipment manufacturing, sports media, broadcasting, event management, sports start-ups and investment.
Building on the Australia-funded Sports Industry Summit in Mumbai, the two countries will facilitate greater market access for sports businesses while expanding India’s exports of competitively priced sporting goods and Australia’s expertise in high-performance coaching, athlete welfare, sports psychology and conditioning.
Empowering Women through Sport
The Roadmap places special emphasis on enhancing women’s participation and leadership in sport through bilateral tournaments, leadership initiatives, athlete development programmes and health-focused collaborations.
Drawing upon Australia’s successful models, both countries will jointly promote sport as a vehicle for women’s empowerment, leadership, social inclusion and economic opportunity.
During their visit to the MCG, Modi and Albanese also interacted with young athletes participating in exhibition matches of Kabaddi, Australian Rules Football and cricket, reflecting the shared sporting passions that continue to bring the two nations closer.
The comprehensive roadmap is expected to serve as a blueprint for one of the world’s most dynamic sporting partnerships, integrating talent development, innovation, business, education and cultural exchange while preparing both nations for an exciting decade of global sporting events.
