By bidding for the 2036 Olympics, India, the world’s most populous country, is positioning itself for a massive infrastructure overhaul, provided the benefits reach local communities, according to a sports governance specialist.
In early March, India’s Ministry of Sports established a committee to review the financial assistance scheme for national sports federations (NSFs) to address emerging challenges and support the country’s bid for the Games. As part of its vast ambition to welcome the 2036 Summer Olympics, Bharat, another of the names that its constitution recognises as a designation for the state, carefully assembled a six-member commission, recognising that national federations play a crucial role in tailoring training plans for elite athletes and young talents who require adequate resources and support to reach their full potential.
The review aims to strengthen the nation’s sports infrastructure, improve athlete performance, and prepare the country for the 2036 Games. International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential candidate Sebastian Coe, who finished third in the 20 March vote that elected Kirsty Coventry as IOC president until 2033, praised the fierce competition for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games hosting rights. He also commended the Asian giant’s ambitious bid, noting the region’s “enormous potential.”
India has never hosted the Olympics, although New Delhi hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982, and the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Only Tokyo (1964), Seoul (1988), and
Beijing (2008) have represented the continent as hosts of the Summer Olympics in the 35 editions held so far, up to the upcoming Brisbane 2032.
Regarding Bharat’s bid, Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, is expected to be at the heart of the country’s plans to host the Games, though a multi-city bid cannot be ruled out. Moya Dodd, a former member of FIFA’s Council and a previous contributor to the IOC’s Athletes’ Entourage Commission, stated that developing the sporting infrastructure to organise the Olympics would yield long-term benefits for the country. “Putting electoral politics aside, this is a tremendous opportunity to drive investment in sports infrastructure that will bear fruit for many years to come,” Dodd confessed during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innovation Lab’s India Sports Summit on Friday.
“Ensuring that these investments are the right ones, in the right places, serving the right people, and adopting an encompassing vision is a significant opportunity, not just to secure hosting rights, but also to uplift the communities that will welcome the Games,” she added.
Dodd also stressed the importance of ensuring the Games leave a lasting legacy. “It’s important to ensure that the model imposed is not purely extractive for the coordinator country, but one that is holistic and uplifting, not just leaving a legacy afterwards, yet actually delivering benefits along the way,” she continued. “That’s crucial because we say sport is a great phenomenon, wonderful, healthy, and beneficial for all. Let’s make sure it doesn’t cause suffering or disadvantage to anyone because of a major event,” Dodd remarked.
India has historically underperformed at the Olympics, with a total of 41 medals to date. The seven medals it won at the Tokyo 2020 Games remain its highest tally at a single Olympics. Of its 10 gold medals, eight were in hockey (between 1928 and 1980), with one each in athletics and shooting.
Former national hockey captain Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, who helped the team secure bronze at Tokyo 2021 and Paris last year, stressed the need for investment to nurture the next generation of athletes. “At the grassroots level, there’s a lot of work to be done,” commented Sreejesh, who retired after the Paris Games and now coaches India’s junior men’s team. “That’s where the investment must go. If we’re talking about the 2036 Olympics, now is the time to tap into talent between the ages of 12 and 14,” he asserted.
Though India is not the only nation vying for the 2036 Olympics, Indonesia, Turkiye, Egypt, and South Korea are also in the running. In November, South Africa began preliminary talks with the IOC about hosting the 2036 Games, aiming to bring a world-class event to the region for the first time and reignite national pride. Other potential contenders include Germany, Chile, Qatar, and Poland.
