Tokyo Olympics 2020: India to have 1st ever Olympic Hospitality House

India will have its first-ever Olympic Hospitality House in Tokyo during Summer Games next year.  Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and JSW Group on Thursday anunced a partnership to build facility. Many of Olympic participating countries have ir own hospitality houses during Games but this will be first time India will be having one to showcase its culture and herit.

official India House logo was unveiled by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju in presence of IOA President Narinder Batra and Secretary General  Rajeev Mehta. 

" India House at 2020 Olympics is an amazing concept. We need a team to produce a sports champion. We have to create right ambience for our athletes at Olympics. India House will represent idea of India at Tokyo Games," said Rijiju.

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Scheduled to be operational from July next year, India Olympic Hospitality House will be built by JSW on a piece of land of 2,200 square metre area in close proximity to Games Vill and multiple venues in Ariake region of Tokyo. It will offer a range of activities and experiences for travelling fans and supporters who will be in Tokyo for Olympics. A staple among developed sporting nations, this will be first-ever such venue for India at Olympic Games.

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Through this initiative, IOA and JSW hope to cement India's presence as a significant member of Olympic Movement. Running through duration of Games, venue will host watch parties, medal celebrations and meet-and-greet opportunities with Indian athletes. Traditional Indian sports will be displayed and visitors will also get a taste of variety of Indian cuisine.

A dedicated Athlete Lounge for Indian Olympians to feel at home and access to medical facilities and food will be available on site. A media centre to host travelling Indian media personnel has also been planned in area. Several Indian and international brands will also have ir stalls to display and sell ir products. Batra said India House will be a home away from home for Indian athletes and fans at Tokyo Olympics.

" India House is a great initiative and we are pleased that JSW has come on board to showcase our culture and herit at Olympics through this Hospitality House. Through this, we hope that Indian athletes and fans can feel at home in a foreign land during Tokyo Olympics," he said.

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Mehta, who was involved in process of identifying proposed site for India House, highlighted that event would be special as it would mark centenary of India's participation at Olympic Games. Indian athletes first participated in Olympic Games in 1920 in Antwerp though India was t an independent country at that time.

"We thought it could be a great initiative to mark 100 years to India's first participation in Olympic Games. India House will host special meetings and dignitaries from different federations and Olympic Committees and help India make its presence felt in Olympic Movement," he said.

JSW Sports Director Parth Jindal added, "I attended my first Olympics in Rio and visited Hospitality Houses of many countries but realised re was t one for India. 

"I felt that India has a great opportunity to showcase its culture through an India House at Olympics and that's where journey started." 

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