Abhinav Bindra Receives Olympic Order at IOC Session in Paris

Abhinav Bindra, the first individual Olympic Gold medalist from India, received the esteemed Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris. The Olympic Order is the highest recognition granted by the IOC, honoring individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the Olympic Movement. Reflecting on this accolade, Bindra expressed, “This acknowledgment is not only a personal milestone but also a testimony to the perseverance and commitment that sports inspire in us all. I am greatly honored to be acknowledged by the IOC, and I dedicate this to all the athletes and sports enthusiasts who strive to uphold the Olympic ideals.”

Bindra’s journey to this extraordinary achievement is characterized by numerous awards and contributions both on and off the field. As a competitor, he became the first Indian to claim an individual Olympic Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games in the Men’s 10m Air rifle discipline, and he holds the distinction of being the first Indian to secure a World Championship Gold in Air Rifle Shooting.

Throughout his twenty-year career, Bindra amassed over 150 individual medals, earning recognition as one of India’s most prominent sports figures. His exceptional dedication to the sport was further recognized when he received the Blue Cross in 2018, the highest honor bestowed by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

In addition to his accomplishments in sports, Bindra has made significant contributions to sports administration. He led the ISSF Athletes Committee for eight years and currently serves as a member of the IOC Athlete Commission and Education Commission. These roles enable him to influence the formulation of global sports policies and advocate for athletes worldwide.

After retiring, Bindra established the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting grassroots athletes in India through cutting-edge sports science technology. By focusing on high-performance training, education, and social upliftment, ABFT aims to introduce international best practices to the Indian sporting arena, ensuring a lasting impact on the country’s future athletes.

Under Bindra’s leadership, a key initiative is the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), which is being carried out in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) and state governments in Odisha and Assam.

Launched in Odisha in 2022 and Assam in 2023, OVEP aims to instill the fundamental Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect in more than 11,000 schools, impacting over 1 million schoolchildren. By fostering a culture of sports and holistic development, OVEP is positioning India as a frontrunner in values-based education, with a target of reaching 13 million schoolchildren by 2025.

Furthermore, Bindra’s commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation is evident in the Odisha Ridley Forest Project, an initiative aimed at preserving the natural habitat of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles along the Odisha coastline.

This recognition underscores Bindra’s lasting impact on the world of sports and his ongoing endeavors to promote Olympism values globally.