Mumbai, India, October 1, 2024: Nita Ambani, Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation and a member of the International Olympic Committee, hosted a special event on Sunday, September 29 to honour India’s Olympics and Paralympic athletes.
Approximately 140 athletes who have competed at the Olympics and Paralympic Games were invited to her residence "Antilia" in Mumbai for the occasion.
The event, titled “United in Triumph", was a historic gathering marking the first time the country’s Olympians and Paralympians shared the same stage. It also saw the presence of renowned coaches and prominent figures from the sports community.
Nita Ambani said: “This evening is truly special for us. For the first time, our Olympic and Paralympic athletes have come together on one platform. We are immensely proud of them, and today’s event is an opportunity to express our love and respect for their extraordinary achievements.
“United in Triumph, United in Celebration and United in the inclusive spirit of sport,” she noted.
Ambani also spoke about the “transformational power of sport” and hailed the contribution of India’s female athletes to the country’s Olympic success.
Ambani said: “Their successes are even more special because of the difficulties women face in pursuing professional sport. Not just economic challenges, even getting permission from their families, or finding facilities to train, access to physios and rehab centres, or simply how far they have to travel from their villages to reach a coach.
“And despite that, our female athletes have reached the pinnacle of success. They are sending out a strong message to the little girls who are watching – a message that they are unstoppable and that nothing is impossible for them,” Ambani added.
India won one silver medal and five bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. At the Paris Paralympics, India had a record haul of 29 medals including seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze medals.