BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha was invited to manage the Hindu Faith Centre at the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024 in Paris, France, providing essential spiritual support and meditation facilities to athletes from around the world. The service provided a serene space for athletes to engage in prayers, meditation, and reflection, helping them maintain their spiritual and mental well-being amidst intense competition.
Enshrining murtis of Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj (Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami), Bhagwan Shri Radha-Krishna, Bhagwan Shri Sita-Rama and Bhagwan Shri Parvati-Shankar, the Hindu Centre offered athletes the opportunity to offer their respects and also participate in various prayer ceremonies, including the arti and abhishek.
The popular Hindu festivals of Shri Krishna Janmasthami and Shri Ganesh Chaturthi were also celebrated during the Games, with athletes of various nationalities and backgrounds also participating in the devotional festivities.
In addition, a dedicated chaplaincy service offered Hindu and Jain athletes personalised spiritual guidance and support.
Archana Girish Kamath, who represented Team India in Table Tennis, echoed the sentiments of several other Indian athletes who expressed their gratitude for the support and comfort provided by the Hindu Faith Centre, enriching their Olympic experience. She said, “Thank you for having a centre like this. It has been really nice to come down here and pray. Thank you so much.”
The Centre was open to athletes of all faiths, nationalities and backgrounds, with many appreciating the opportunity to learn about Hindu values and culture.
John and Isaac of Belgium wrote: “Thank you for sharing 3 key pieces of information about a religion I didn’t know much about.” Referring to the upcoming BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris, they added, “And happy for you with the inauguration of the first [traditional] temple in France!”
After visiting the Hindu Centre, Juan Manuel Jasid, coach of the Argentine Paralympic Athletics Team, expressed, “Thank you very much. I felt very good and very comfortable. Much peace and much love to you all.”
Marisa Markunas, Sports Psychologist for Team Brazil, also found that the Centre “really does bring about inner peace and calm” and was pleased that “the Olympic community is promoting these faith centres.”
The Hindu Faith Centre was part of a comprehensive Multi-Faith Centre that included places of prayer and reflection for Buddhists, Christians, Jews and Muslims, promoting interfaith harmony and understanding during the Olympics.
After meeting BAPS volunteers at the Hindu Faith Centre, Brother James Hayes, a Catholic Chaplain, observed, “What a delight to spend some time with you in your temple. We have so much in common!”
John Cedara of the International Buddhist Centre in Le Bourget, France, also wrote, “I am very happy to visit the Hindu Centre in the Olympic Village. We can work together for peace and serenity in the world.”
By housing various places of worship, the Multi-Faith Centre ensured all athletes had access to spiritual support, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the Olympics and the celebration of global diversity.
Deep Patel, a BAPS volunteer from Paris, added, “We are pleased and grateful that BAPS was invited to set up this centre to serve athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The centre reflects His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj’s emphasis on peace, harmony and spiritual strength as values that transcend national and cultural boundaries to truly unite people, whether at the world’s foremost sporting event or far beyond.”