District Collector Abhishikth Kishore has directed officials to make strong security and protocol arrangements for the BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting-2026, comprising the Sports Working Group meeting and the Sports Ministers’ meeting, to be held in Visakhapatnam on August 22 and 23.

Chairing a meeting with officials at the Collectorate on Monday evening to review arrangements for the meeting, Mr. Kishore said the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would organise the event at the Novotel hotel in Visakhapatnam on August 22 and 23. With Ministers and officials from 11 countries expected to participate, he directed officials to make arrangements befitting an international event.

Ministers and delegates from other countries are scheduled to arrive in the city on August 21 and 22 and leave on August 24, he added.

Strengthening cooperation

The meeting would focus on strengthening cooperation among BRICS member countries in areas including sports development, sports technology, the sports industry, capacity building, and the promotion and preservation of traditional and indigenous sports, the district administration said.

The BRICS member countries are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. About 50 to 70 dignitaries, including Sports Ministers and official representatives of the member countries and the Union Sports Minister, are expected to attend.

The district administration said the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and the Education Minister N. Lokesh were likely to participate in the inaugural and other programmes.

Mr. Kishore directed officials to complete accommodation arrangements for the visiting delegations at the Radisson Blu and Novotel hotels and to put security and protocol arrangements in place. He asked officials to coordinate with Vizianagaram district authorities for reception and transport arrangements at the airport and to deploy liaison officers.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation was asked to oversee sanitation, the Tourism Department to arrange cultural programmes, and the Police department to make strong security arrangements. The Collector directed all departments to work in coordination.

According to the programme, a gala dinner will be held at the Novotel on the night of August 22. On August 23, delegates are scheduled to take part in a cycle rally at Rama Krishna Beach, visit the glass bridge at Kailasagiri, participate in a tree-plantation programme, and attend programmes at Thotlakonda and Rushikonda beaches. The Sports Working Group meeting is scheduled to be held at the Novotel on the morning of August 23.

Mr. Kishore instructed officials concerned from the Revenue, Police, GVMC, Tourism, SETVIS, Sports, and Forest departments, to work in coordination and complete the arrangements according to the minute-to-minute programme.