India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra was awarded the prestigious Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris. The Olympic Order is the highest award of the IOC and recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement. Speaking about the honour, Bindra said, “This recognition is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the spirit of perseverance and dedication that sport inspires in all of us. I am deeply honoured to be recognised by the IOC and I dedicate this to all athletes and sports enthusiasts who strive to uphold the Olympic ideals.”
Bindra’s journey to this remarkable achievement is marked by numerous accolades and achievements both in and out of sport. As a sportsman, he was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and he holds the honour of being the first Indian to win gold at a World Championship in air rifle shooting.
Over the course of his twenty-year career, Bindra won over 150 individual medals, making him one of India’s greatest sporting icons. His exceptional service to the sport was further recognised in 2018 when he was awarded the Blue Cross, the highest honour of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
In addition to his sporting achievements, Bindra has made significant contributions to sports administration. He served as Chairman of the ISSF Athletes’ Committee for eight years and is currently a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and Education Commission. These roles enable him to influence the development of global sports policies and advocate for athletes worldwide.
After his retirement, Bindra founded the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting grassroots athletes in India through cutting-edge sports science technology. Through initiatives focused on high-performance training, education and social empowerment, ABFT aims to bring global best practices to the Indian sporting landscape, ensuring a lasting impact on the country’s future athletes.
A major initiative under Bindra’s leadership is the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), which is being implemented in partnership with the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) of the International Olympic Committee and the state governments in Odisha and Assam.
Launched in Odisha in 2022 and Assam in 2023, OVEP aims to instill the core Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect in over 11,000 schools, reaching over 1 million schoolchildren. By promoting a culture of sports and holistic development, OVEP positions India as a leader in values-based education with the aim of reaching 13 million schoolchildren by 2025.
Furthermore, Bindra’s commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation is reflected in the Odisha Ridley Forest Project, an initiative to conserve the natural habitat of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles along the coast of Odisha.
This recognition underlines Bindra’s lasting legacy in the world of sport and his ongoing efforts to promote the values of Olympism around the world.
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