The Business Bytes
Paris, July 26, 2024 (TBB Bureau): Heartfulness and Reliance Foundation have partnered to host a groundbreaking athlete-centric meditation program at the India House, Parc de la Villette, Paris, during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The event will be inaugurated by the Guest of Honour, Ms. Alexandra de Coubertin, President of the Pierre de Coubertin Association and a member of the IOC Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission, on the 29th of July. Named after Pierre de Coubertin, the Father of the Modern Olympic Games, this association celebrates his legacy.
This collaboration between Heartfulness and the Reliance Foundation underscores how sports serve as a unifying force that transcends backgrounds, identities, and ethnicities. The Heartfulness-led program will run from July 29 to August 1, and from August 7 to 8, aiming to integrate meditation into athletic performance enhancement.
The India House, conceptualized by Reliance Foundation in association with the Indian Olympic Association, marks a historic first as a dedicated space for Indian athletes at the Olympics. It will act as a home away from home for Indian athletes and commemorate over 100 years of India’s participation in the Olympics as a team.
Themed “Inner Skill for Athletic Excellence,” the event focuses on leveraging Heartfulness meditation to optimize athletic performance. Entitled “Applying Meditation for Optimal Athletic Performance,” the program also aims to elevate Indian culture, sports, and heritage. Participants will explore Heartfulness meditation techniques designed to help athletes achieve and maintain peak performance, manage stress, maintain mental clarity in high-pressure situations, and build resilience and recovery through meditation. The goal is to inspire athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts by providing tools to enhance performance and reach their full potential.
Rev. Daaji, Global Guide of Heartfulness and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, emphasized the importance of mental resilience in sports: “Athletics is not simply about physical and physiological strength but also about mental fortitude. Many times, sportsmen lose despite the best qualifications because they have not developed that mental resilience. Resilience, focus, and inner calm are essential to tackle any situation – be it in sports or life. This is where Heartfulness meditation helps. I am delighted that the Reliance Foundation has collaborated with Heartfulness to empower athletes, as well as people from other backgrounds. Through Heartfulness, we hope to awaken the dormant consciousness among sportsmen and sports enthusiasts and help unleash their unlimited potential. This opportunity at the Paris Olympics is a momentous occasion for us.”
The event will feature keynote speeches on topics such as “The Power of Meditation in Sports,” “How Meditation Enhances Athletic Performance,” and “The Future of Meditation in Sports.” Participants will also engage in guided group activities to experience Heartfulness meditation firsthand.
This unique program not only highlights the potential of meditation in sports but also celebrates the rich cultural heritage of India at a global event, creating a platform for athletes to explore new dimensions of performance and personal growth.
