Visakhapatnam Gears Up for BRICS Sports Ministers' Summit on Aug 22-23

Visakhapatnam is making elaborate arrangements to host the BRICS sports ministers' meetings scheduled for August 22 and 23, with district authorities reviewing logistics, security, and hospitality plans on Thursday.

District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore directed all departments to coordinate on transport, accommodation, protocol, security, and other arrangements for the visiting sports ministers and senior officials from BRICS member countries. Reception desks will be set up at the airport and hotels, and duty passes for officials and staff will be issued in advance to ensure smooth access.

The main meetings and bilateral engagements will be held at the Radisson Blu and Novotel hotels. A tree-planting programme involving the visiting ministers is scheduled at Thotlakonda at 8 a.m. on August 22. Forest officials have been asked to identify plants suited to local conditions and ensure their subsequent maintenance.

Bilateral meetings and engagements relating to youth affairs will follow at Radisson Blu. The Chief Minister is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with foreign sports ministers at the Novotel on the evening of August 22, followed by a gala dinner for about 150 people, according to the district administration.

On August 23, a friendly cycling event featuring BRICS sports ministers and the Union Sports Minister is planned on Beach Road. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation will provide 40 bicycles, and the Sports Department will provide 25 bicycles.

To facilitate the event, vehicles and pedestrians will not be allowed on the Beach Road stretch from Coastal Battery Junction to Park Hotel from the early hours until 8 a.m. on August 23. Officials have been asked to inform motorists, walkers, and those exercising in the area in advance, and to put up signboards along the route. The public has been urged to cooperate.

A dinner for foreign delegates is also planned at Rushikonda Beach on August 23. Welcome boards and cultural programmes showcasing local traditions, including a Dhimsa tribal dance performance, have been proposed. Officials were also directed to focus on sanitation and beautification at the venues.

Mr. Kishore asked all departments to work in coordination to ensure the meetings are conducted smoothly. The BRICS meetings, which bring together sports ministers from member nations, are part of India's diplomatic engagement under the group's framework and aim to strengthen cooperation in sports and youth affairs. The choice of Visakhapatnam for the event highlights the city's growing capacity to host international gatherings.