Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 19 (ANI): Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, on Saturday underscored the growing role of sports in education and the economy, expressing Australia’s willingness to collaborate with India to build a stronger sports ecosystem that generates business and employment opportunities for young people.
Speaking at a session titled “Diplomacy Beyond Delhi: Fostering Sports and Culture Ties” during the 9th Talk Journalism in Jaipur, Green said, “In Australian schools, sports are an essential part of the curriculum… However, many Australian universities also focus on disciplines such as sports science, sports medicine, athlete training, physiotherapy, sports business, marketing, security, and sports as a business, not just a leisure activity.”
He added, “For young people, this field has a promising future… We are ensuring students at our universities are ready for a world where sports play a bigger role in the regional and global economy, with more jobs and opportunities. We’ve invested heavily in this field.”
Green attributed Australia’s success in international sporting events to sustained investment in sports education and infrastructure, noting, “Part of Australia’s success, as reflected in our medal tables, is due to supporting a robust sports ecosystem. We’d be happy to involve India in this, as it creates business and job opportunities for young people in sports.”
The event highlighted the use of sports and education as avenues to enhance diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations.
As part of broader efforts to strengthen people-to-people connections, Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong announced 34 recipients of this year’s Maitri Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships, reinforcing Australia’s commitment to deepening educational and professional exchanges with India.
The Maitri (“friendship”) Grants, administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, support collaboration in technology, business, education, and culture.
According to a statement from the Australian High Commission, this year’s grants will fund projects such as the Lowy Institute’s first-ever India Chair to advance research on India’s role in the Indo-Pacific; best-practice playbooks by Asialink Business for clean technology and agricultural technology collaboration; a world-class exhibition of rare works by Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art; and a media incubator showcasing South Asian diaspora narratives led by Bodhi Studios.
The 2024–2025 Maitri program also includes 13 scholarships supporting innovative research in fields such as quantum computing and clean energy solutions, and three fellowships exploring new bilateral opportunities.
The High Commission statement noted: “Australia and India’s relationship is closer and more important than ever. We are deepening cooperation across priority sectors that are vital to both nations’ futures, including in defence, trade, education, and technology.”
Welcoming the announcement, Green said, “Australia’s relationship with India is stronger, deeper, and more consequential than ever — and its future holds even greater promise. At the heart of this relationship are the people-to-people connections that bind our two nations. The Maitri Grants program builds on these ties, helping unlock the full potential of our bilateral relationship.”
“I congratulate this year’s recipients and look forward to seeing how their work helps foster deeper links between Australia and India,” he added. (ANI)
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