India House, the nation’s first country house at the Olympics, opened its doors on July 27, during the Paris Games. The inaugural event was led by Nita M. Ambani, International Olympic committee member and founder and chairperson of the Reliance Foundation.
India House will serve as a cultural hub for Indian athletes and guests, featuring daily programming curated by the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, panel discussions, celebrations of medal wins, and meet-and-greet events with Indian athletes.
The opening ceremony of India house at Parc de la Villette, featured key figures such as Ser Miang NG, IOC member; P.T. Usha, president of the Indian Olympic Association; Jawed Ashraf, Indian Ambassador to France; Jay Shah, honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI); and Abhinav Bindra, Olympic gold medalist.
Ambani began the ceremony with a traditional lamp-lighting ritual, symbolizing auspiciousness and goodwill. She described India House as a symbol of the country’s Olympic aspirations and a step towards hosting the Games in India.
“Today we gather here at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 to open the doors to a dream, a dream that belongs to 1.4 million Indians. A dream to bring India to the Olympics and our shared dream to bring the Olympics to India,” Ambani said.
The opening ceremony included performances by Bollywood singer Shaan, traditional Dhol music, and a Mallakhamb display by visually impaired children from Mumbai.
Mallakhamb performance at the India House. / India House/ InstagramThe initiative, a collaboration between the Reliance Foundation and the Indian Olympic Association, aims to highlight Indian culture and achievements at the Paris Olympics.
India House will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time from July 27 to August 11, with tickets priced at €5.
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