More than 400 sportspersons and officials from seven member countries are participating in the event
India is hosting the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Aquatic Championship 2024 in New Delhi from 5-10 February 2024, as an initiative to foster regional cooperation spirit in the Bay of Bengal Region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.
 
The championship will be inaugurated by Union Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur along with Nepal's Minister of Youth and Sports Dig Bahadur Limbu Government of Nepal on Tuesday (February 6, 2024). MEA's Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar and BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey will be present on the occasion. 
 
More than 400 sportspersons and officials from seven member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmyar, Nepal, Sri Lanka & Thailand) will be participating in the event.
 
The Bay of Bengal Region is home to the largest young population in the world. In recent years, the region is also emerging as one of the promising pools of sports talent all over the world. The region has rich and diverse pool of traditional games which are increasingly becoming attractive and popular globally and are becoming part of international sports, the MEA said
 
"The BIMSTEC Aquatic Championship will play a catalytic role in making the Bay of Bengal Region a sports powerhouse. This initiative will lead towards creation of a culture of games and sports for the world’s most young Region," the MEA noted.
 
BIMSTEC was established as a regional grouping on June 6, 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation), the organisation is now known as BIMSTEC and comprises seven Member States.