INDIA’S DELPHIC GAMES MOVEMENT PICKS UP
As the countdown for Tokyo Olympics has started, the revival of the ancient global Delphic Games movement in India has picked up speed. The Delphic Games’ headquarters is in Geneva. While Olympics are for international competitions for physical sports, the Delphic Games are for global competition for different forms of Musical Arts, Performing arts, visual arts, Literature, Social Arts, Communications, Ecological Arts and Architecture. Delhi-based Bijender Goel (55), known for introducing earthquake onsite early warning technology in South Asia, has been nominated as the Founding President of the Indian Delphic Council (INDC). Goel is also Advisor of the South Asian Affairs of the International Delphic Council (IDC). He has earlier been the Special Representative (Minister of State), Jharkhand. The history of the Delphic Games traces its roots back to Delphi in Greece 2,500 years ago “as the twin-sister of the Olympic Games.”the modernera Delphic Games were revived in 1994– 100 years after the reintroduction of the Olympic Games. Since revival, the Delphic Games have been hosted in Georgia, Russia, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines, Germany and South Africa while Delphic Summits, Delphic Art Wall initiatives and other festivals of cultural significance have been organised elsewhere in the world. India has participated in three editions of the Delphic Games abroad and won
Gold and Silver medals in South Korea. Goel said, “We are planning to take the Delphic movement to artists, art lovers, various stakeholders and government bodies by promoting all the arts categories through festivals and events.” As the South Asian head, Goel has started the process of the formation National Delphic Councils in seven SAARC region nations. “In India, we have formed Delphic Councils in 22 states and hope to cover the entire country soon,” said Goel. “Once the Covid-19 pandemic is over,” Goel said, “we will plan the national Delphic Games in a big way and participate in the Delphic global event later.”