A year on, OVEP taking small but significant steps in instilling the values of Olympism

Abhinav Bindra Foundation launched the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the School & Mass Education Department of the Government of Odisha, a year ago

When my two-decade-long sporting career came to a close with a fourth-place finish at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 — as I missed bronze by a whisker — what could have been a moment of crushing disappointment, was in fact one filled with immense gratitude.

Rivals, teammates, coaches, people from all parts of the world came up to me immediately after and thanked and congratulated me on my career, for competing hard, and for always being fair.

The respect and friendship that came my way made that fourth-place finish very, very easy to swallow. I realised then that, although I would no longer be a competitive shooter, sport and the Olympic values would never leave me.

The Olympics stand for a lifelong commitment to fair play, honesty and integrity, and are a testament to the fact that sport can, indeed, help make the world a better place for everyone.

My strong belief is that being an Olympian requires you commit to the Olympic values and pass on the benefits to as many young girls and boys as you can.

It is with this mission in mind that the Abhinav Bindra Foundation launched the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the School & Mass Education Department of the Government of Odisha, a year ago.

As the anniversary approaches, all of us involved in delivering OVEP to nearly 50,000 children in 90 government schools in the state of Odisha find ourselves filled with joy and optimism.