By Shalini Saha:- The Department of Sports Management at iLEAD, Kolkata, successfully organised “United Through Sport – Celebrating the Spirit of the Commonwealth Games 2026,” bringing together leaders from diplomacy, sports administration, and inclusive sport for an engaging and thought-provoking interaction with students.
The event was graced by Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner for East & North East India, and Mr. Chandan Roy Chowdhury, President, Bengal Olympic Association, who participated in an interactive panel discussion moderated by Mr. Jupiter Dalai, Department In-Charge – Sports Management, iLEAD.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by the institution’s leadership, followed by a felicitation ceremony honouring the distinguished guests. A special recognition was also accorded to Mr. Utpal Majumdar, Head Coach and Honorary Secretary of the West Bengal Cricket Association for Differently Abled (WBCADA), along with members of the West Bengal Differently Abled Cricket Team—Mr. Biju Das, Mr. Rajat Biswas, Mr. Debraj Banerjee, and Mr. Tusar Mukherjee—for their remarkable contribution to inclusive sport and their inspiring sporting journeys.
Unlike a conventional guest lecture, the event featured an engaging panel discussion titled “United Through Sport: A Commonwealth Conversation,” covering topics such as the spirit of the Commonwealth Games 2026, sport as a platform for leadership and diplomacy, accessibility and inclusion in global sport, career opportunities in the international sports industry, and the role of young professionals in shaping the future of sport.
One of the highlights of the discussion was the conversation around the Braille medals introduced for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, symbolising the growing importance of accessibility and inclusion in international sporting events. The panellists emphasised that the future of sport lies not only in excellence but also in creating opportunities for everyone to participate and succeed.
Students actively participated in the interactive session, engaging directly with the panellists through a lively question-and-answer segment. The discussion encouraged students to think beyond competition and explore sport as a powerful tool for leadership, international collaboration, community development, and social impact.
The formal programme concluded with media interactions and group photographs, followed by The Commonwealth Friendship Kick-Off, a friendly football match between students, mentors, and members of the British High Commission team, reflecting the event’s central message that sport has the power to unite people across cultures and communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jupiter Dalai, Department In-Charge – Sports Management, iLEAD, said, “United Through Sport was envisioned as more than just an event. It was designed as a platform where diplomacy, leadership, inclusion, and sport could come together to inspire our students. We are grateful to our distinguished guests for sharing their experiences and encouraging our future sports leaders to think globally while creating meaningful impact through sport.
“The event reinforced iLEAD’s commitment to experiential learning and industry engagement by providing students with the opportunity to interact with distinguished leaders from the diplomatic and sporting communities. Through initiatives such as “United Through Sport”, the institution continues to nurture future-ready professionals while promoting the values of friendship, respect, inclusion, and excellence.
