Commissioned by the High Commission of India in Canberra, Australia, and authored by Molina Asthana—an Australia-based lawyer and recognised expert in the sports industry—the new report outlines a transformative roadmap for sports collaboration between India and Australia.
Australia and India are expanding their partnership through sport, leveraging strengths in sports governance, science, technology, and infrastructure. With India preparing for future bids such as the 2036 Olympic Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games, Australia’s expertise is expected to play a crucial role in capacity-building and high-performance development. At the same time, Australia will gain opportunities to grow its presence in one of the world’s fastest-rising sports markets.
Key Areas of Collaboration
- Capacity Building
Collaboration with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and state sports centres includes athlete exchange programmes, high-performance training support, and “Train the Trainer” pathways for coaches and officials. There is also a strong focus on grassroots participation, Para sports, mental well-being, and growing professional leagues in emerging sports.
- Sports Governance & Management
Australia will support India in strengthening governance systems, with expertise from the Australian Sports Commission. Partnerships with universities will help train sports administrators, while Indian graduates in Australia will contribute to sectoral development.
- Safety, Ethics & Integrity
Sport Integrity Australia will guide the creation of athlete-protection frameworks, grievance mechanisms, tribunal systems, and policies promoting safe and fair participation.
- Sports Education & Science
Joint curriculum development, centres of excellence, research exchanges, sports-tech incubators, and advanced training in analytics, biomechanics, nutrition, and mental conditioning are key pillars.
- Major Sporting Events
Drawing from its Olympic hosting legacy, Australia will support India in venue planning, sustainability, large-scale event delivery, and sports tourism promotion. Exhibition tours and cross-promotion of sports such as kabaddi and AFL will help strengthen people-to-people links.
- Sports Technology & Innovation
The partnership aims to boost investment, create joint innovation hubs, expand esports collaboration, and enhance sports goods manufacturing benefiting MSMEs in both nations.
- Sports Volunteering
Australia’s community-led volunteer model will be adopted to increase participation and strengthen event operations in India.
- Traditional & Indigenous Sports
Sports like Pro Kabaddi, kho kho, and Yoga will be promoted in Australia, while exchange initiatives will connect Indigenous and Tribal athletes from both countries.
- Indian Diaspora Engagement
With strong representation in Australian sports, the Indian diaspora will act as talent connectors and brand ambassadors across leagues including AFL and NBL.
- Diversity & Inclusion
Australia will support India in building inclusive structures that empower women, athletes with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and Indigenous groups.
- Sports Infrastructure Development
India will benefit from Australia’s experience in stadium design, accessibility planning, and sustainable facility management.
Implementation Roadmap
To operationalize the partnership, the report recommends:
- Activation of the 2023 MoU on sports cooperation
- A Joint Ministerial Commission & Joint Sports Task Force
- Annual Action Plans with performance monitoring
- New institutional MoUs between SAI and ASC
- Athlete, coach, and official exchange programmes
- Public-private investment for scalable impact
- Regular bilateral sporting summits and delegations
A Shared Vision for Growth
The Strategy positions sport as a powerful connector—strengthening diplomatic ties and opening doors for new business, innovation, jobs, tourism, and youth development.
By moving beyond cricket and embracing a truly multi-sport approach, India and Australia are building a future-ready sporting alliance that will drive global competitiveness and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.