Shared sports facilities
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) promotes the principle that sports are for everyone—not limited to students, but extended to local residents, schools, and special-needs groups. Its flagship Manipal Marathon 2024 embodied this inclusivity, bringing together over 15,000 participants, including 200 visually impaired and 150 differently-abled runners (Manipal Marathon 2024 Official Report), (Stride for a Cause – Press Coverage), (IndCareer Coverage). Featuring categories from a free 3K Fun Run to an internationally certified 42K race, the marathon raised awareness for hospice and palliative care, connecting fitness with compassion-driven advocacy. Beyond one-time events, MAHE’s Marena indoor arena, MIT Grounds, and KMC Fields are shared regularly with local schools, amateur clubs, community groups, and NGOs, providing low- or no-cost access for training, competitions, and wellness programs (MAHE Sports Facilities Page). These practices underscore MAHE’s commitment to sustainable health ecosystems through resource sharing and continuous community engagement.
MAHE also advances the intersection of sports, gender equality, and sustainable development through its leadership in national women’s sports. In February 2024, it hosted the All India Inter-University Cricket Tournament for Women in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), followed by the All India Inter-Zone Inter-University Tennis Tournament for Women (December 2024) at Marena (Hindu News – Tennis Tournament), (Tripura Star News – Inter-Zone Tournament). These events reinforced MAHE’s role in promoting SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by creating equitable platforms for female athletes. Locally, the MAHE Cross Country Race (August 2024) commemorated National Sports Day and Olympic legend Major Dhyanchand, inviting both students and residents to celebrate fitness and community spirit (Press Release). Regular sports meets across MAHE’s constituent institutions such as MIC and MSON, along with school-level athletics and awareness runs, further embed wellness education within the regional calendar, aligning with India’s national SDG framework.
Through open access to facilities, gender-inclusive events, and socially conscious sports programs, MAHE continues to operationalize SDG 3.3.3 by transforming sport into a vehicle for sustainable community health. With an annual participation reach exceeding 20,000 athletes, including local residents, schoolchildren, women, and persons with disabilities, MAHE’s sports model directly supports SDGs 3 (Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). These initiatives foster active lifestyles, promote equity, and inspire collective well-being—illustrating why sustainable development is not just about infrastructure but about the shared human experience.