Visakhapatnam to host BRICS Youth and Sports Ministers’ Meetings

India will host the two-day BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting and Sports Ministers' Meeting in Visakhapatnam from Saturday. Ministers and heads of delegation from all 11 BRICS member countries will attend discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation in youth affairs and sports.

Visakhapatnam: India will host the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting and the BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, starting Saturday, under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026.

The two-day meetings will be attended by ministers and heads of delegation from all 11 BRICS member countries. The meetings aim to strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries in the fields of youth affairs and sports.

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Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will chair the meetings, while Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse will also participate in the proceedings.

The BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting will focus on strengthening cooperation in youth development and empowerment. Key issues on the agenda will include education, skill development, entrepreneurship, youth welfare, wellbeing and sustainable development. The meeting is expected to culminate in the adoption of the BRICS Youth Ministerial Joint Declaration and the BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework.

The BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting on August 23 will bring together Sports Ministers and Heads of Delegation from the 11 BRICS member countries. The meeting will reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation in sports.

India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach.

“The ministerial engagements will build on the meetings and discussions held during India’s BRICS Chairship and provide an important platform for advancing cooperation among BRICS member countries,” the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said.

“The meeting is expected to culminate in the adoption of the BRICS Youth Ministerial Joint Declaration and the BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework,” it added.

According to the official press release, the Sports Track under India’s BRICS Chairship has focused on areas including traditional and indigenous sports, sports technology, sports manufacturing and the finalisation of the Joint Declaration.

The meeting will conclude with the adoption of the BRICS Sports Joint Declaration.

“The programme will also feature the BRICS Friendship Cycling Event, country statements by representatives of all 11 BRICS member countries, bilateral meetings and cultural engagements. The Sports Ministers’ Meeting will include statements by Heads of Delegation from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, followed by the adoption of the Joint Declaration.”