Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to flag off ‘Run for Rio’ event at India Gate in New Delhi on July 31 to create ‘Olympic Fever’ in the country ahead of next month’s multi-sporting spectacle in Brazil, Sports Minister Vijay Goel announced.

Mr. Goel said at the ASSOCHAM conference in New Delhi, that, “We want to create a fever of Olympics in the country and keeping that in mind, we will be organizing a ‘Run for Rio’ event from India Gate. When I talked to Prime Minister Modi about this idea, he said he will come and flag off this run. Thousands of people will join the run to give their support to the Olympic athletes.”

“A big screen will be placed below the flag at the central park along with an exhibition in which there will be posters and cutouts of Olympians like Vijender Singh and others. This will create a carnival-type scenario,” he said.

Goel said while responding to a query on the state of boxing in India, that, “Presently, we don’t have a boxing federation in India. Our complete concentration is on Rio-bound boxers. We have formed an ad hoc committee so that no problem arises in their preparations and for sending them to Rio.”

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Nandini