Raipur. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma on Friday reviewed preparations for the upcoming Bastar Olympics 2025, which will once again be held on a grand scale in October–November. A review meeting was convened at the Nava Raipur residence of Deputy CM Arun Sao, where officials discussed the framework and logistical arrangements for the event.
The Bastar Olympics will be conducted at block, district, and divisional levels. More than 40,000 athletes from all seven districts and 32 blocks of the Bastar division are expected to participate. The meeting was attended by Sports and Youth Welfare Secretary Yashwant Kumar, Joint Secretary Sukhnath Ahirwar, and Director Tanuja Salam.
Sports Minister Arun Sao described the Bastar Olympics as a “confluence of development and sports.” He said the event aims not only to celebrate sports but also to empower Bastar’s youth and nurture their leadership skills. “Through such creative initiatives, the government seeks to establish a fear-free environment in Bastar and connect young people with sports and festivities,” he said. Sao directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan through inter-departmental coordination to ensure the motto ‘Karsay Ta Bastar, Barsay Ta Bastar’ (Bastar Will Play, Bastar Will Win) is realized on the ground.
He further called for the active involvement of last year’s winning athletes, declared as youth icons, along with sports officers, PTIs, Panchayat secretaries, Bihan women groups, and local sports associations to ensure that the Bastar Olympics reaches every household in the region.
Home Minister Vijay Sharma urged all departments to fulfill their responsibilities to make the event truly memorable. He emphasized that large-scale participation of local athletes would boost their confidence and help create a positive atmosphere across the conflict-affected region. Sharma also directed officials to launch extensive publicity campaigns to ensure participation of children from every village in Bastar, and instructed that follow-up review meetings with departments be organized in Bastar itself.
Special Competitions for Survivors and Surrendered Cadres
The event will run for about one and a half months and will feature 11 sports disciplines: athletics, archery, badminton, football, hockey, weightlifting, karate, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, and tug of war. Competitions will be held for junior boys and girls as well as senior men and women. Significantly, at the divisional level, special events will be organized for survivors of Naxal violence and surrendered Naxalites, transforming the Olympics into a platform of inclusion, resilience, and reintegration.
Athletes from across Bastar will showcase their sporting skills in an event that symbolizes not just competition, but also the region’s enduring spirit of unity and progress.
