New Delhi: With Ahmedabad remaining the core of India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics, the Indian government is planning to host the events across multiple cities to turn the Games “a movement for the full country”.
As per a report by The Indian Express, Bhubaneswar will host hockey games, Bhopal will host rowing, Pune will host canoeing and kayaking and Mumbai will host cricket games in the country for the 2036 Olympics.
India has been in discussions with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Hosts Commission since submitting a Letter of Intent in October 2024. The government is planning to present a proposal to the global body soon.
“This is something in the making. How the final picture will look, none of us know right now. We will make a plan and present it to the IOC. Based on those conversations, decisions will be taken. We want to take the sports to other parts of India and make it a movement for the full country” an official said as quoted by the Indian Express.
Infrastructure development for 2036 Olympics
With Ahmedabad at the centre, sports infrastructure projects valued at over Rs 6,000 crore are in the pipeline as the country is getting ready to bid aggressively for the 2036 Olympics. These projects will go ahead irrespective of whether the country’s bid for the games is successful or not.
One of the major ongoing projects is the Naranpura Sports Complex. It is built at a cost of approximately Rs 631.77 crore on 20.39 acre. It has Olympic-standard facilities such as swimming pools, courts for basketball, badminton, gymnastics arenas and volleyball.
According to The Indian Express, more than 1000 workers are involved to complete the project, which will be part of India’s plan for the 2036 Olympics. The Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave and the Karai Sports Hub will be the two primary hubs for the Olympics in Gujarat.
Karai will host the athletics event, where a 35,000-seater stadium will be constructed while the Karai Police Academy will host the shooting events. The country is also targeting to host the 2028 World U20 Athletics Championships and the 2028 Asian Swimming Championship. Hosting these events will provide a valuable experience ahead of the Olympic Games.
The ongoing administrative issues within the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have raised concerns. There are tensions between President PT Usha and the executive committee that will be a major challenge for the country as IOA is responsible for engaging in dialogue with the IOC for the Olympics. India will also face tough competition from countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who have also shown interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics.
While Ahmedabad is set to be the centre of the Olympics if India win the bid to host the 2036 Games, talks are ongoing to have multiple cities as hosts. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
