Nation in 'Olympic' mood as preparations in full swing for 'Run For Rio'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the 'Run For Rio' in New Delhi on Sunday to celebrate the Olympic mood in the country, especially when India is sending its largest ever contingent of athletes to participate in the Games.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister will also release a publication of the Sports Authority of India on Indian Olympics Journey, which will carry interesting information on country's Olympics achievements and preparations for the future.

Preparations are in full swing for the event, where around 20,000 schoolchildren will participate.

The run will commence from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and will end at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel, who is supervising the event, said: "The objective of the run is to not only demonstrate to the athletes that the whole country is proud of them and wishes them all the best in the forthcoming Rio Olympics competitions, but also to connect public at large, especially children and youth, with the Olympic spirit and power of sports."

He said similar runs on a smaller scale will be held in the Sports Authority of India Regional Centres at Sonepat, Kolkata, Bhopal, Gandhinagar and Thiruvananthapuram.

Goel said an Olympic Exhibition and a Food Park is also being planned in collaboration with NDMC to coincide with the inauguration of the Games at RIO.

While the Exhibition is being planned at Central Park, the Food Park to be held at Kharak Singh Marg in front of State Emporiums.