Delhi Khel Mahakumbh 2025-26 Launched with Vibrant Mascot Runveer to Boost Sports Culture
In a significant move to revitalize sports in the national capital, Delhi's Education Minister Ashish Sood unveiled the mascot for the upcoming Delhi Khel Mahakumbh 2025-26 on Monday. The mascot, named Runveer, presents a striking visual with his flowing orange-and-brown mane and an athletic posture, symbolizing the energy and spirit of the event.
Runveer: The Face of Delhi's Sports Revival
Runveer is dressed in a white sleeveless jersey paired with bright orange trousers, adorned with tricolour bands on both his head and arms. This design not only reflects national pride but also embodies the festival's theme, 'Aao Delhi Khele' (Come, Delhi, Play). The mascot's unveiling marks the official announcement of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh 2025-26, a grassroots sports initiative set to commence on February 13 and span over a month.
Minister Sood emphasized that this festival is envisioned as one of the largest grassroots sports initiatives in Delhi, aiming to integrate sports seamlessly with education and youth development. The event aligns with national campaigns such as the Fit India Movement and the Khelo India Mission, focusing on talent identification and nurturing across the city.
Objectives and Scope of the Mahakumbh
The primary goals of the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh include:
- Building a strong and sustainable sports culture in Delhi.
- Creating pathways for budding athletes to progress to higher levels of competition, including national and international platforms.
- Fostering community engagement through sports.
Over 20,000 sportspersons are expected to participate in this extensive festival. It will bring together multiple platforms under one umbrella, such as:
- Delhi State School Games
- National School Games
- Khelo Delhi
- Constituency Games
Competitions and Venues
Competitions will be held across seven key disciplines:
- Athletics
- Football
- Wrestling
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Kabaddi
- Squash
These events will take place at approximately 16 complexes and stadiums across Delhi, including prominent venues like Thyagaraj Stadium, Chhatrasal Stadium, Bawana's Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, and the National Stadium. The festival is open to college-level athletes and participants in the open category, with entries sought from students of Delhi University (DU), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), other universities, as well as registered sports clubs and academies.
Registration and Incentives
A dedicated online portal has been established to facilitate smooth registrations for all participants. To encourage high performance, the event will offer attractive cash prizes:
- Teams winning gold will receive Rs 1.75 lakh.
- Individual gold medallists will be awarded Rs 11,000.
Addressing Past Neglect and Future Commitments
Minister Sood highlighted the historical neglect of sports and youth activities in Delhi, noting a concerning trend in budget allocations. The sports budget was Rs 60 crore in 2021-22, which was reduced to Rs 41 crore in 2022-23, further slashed to Rs 26 crore in 2023-24, and remained stagnant in the following financial year. However, the present government has reversed this trend by tripling the allocation for sports and youth affairs to Rs 76 crore in 2025-26.
Sood described the Delhi Khel Mahakumbh as a historic initiative towards reviving sports culture in the capital, emphasizing its role in addressing past shortcomings and fostering a brighter future for athletes.
Inaugural Ceremony and Festivities
The festival will kick off on February 13 with a grand opening ceremony featuring:
- A parade of athletes
- A torch relay
- Cultural and yoga performances
- Drone and light shows
- Live music performances
This vibrant start aims to set the stage for a month-long celebration dedicated to discovering Delhi's next generation of champions, promoting health, fitness, and competitive spirit across the city.
