SAJI CHACKO
NEW DELHI: For decades, India celebrated the Olympics largely as a spectator nation, wondering when the country of 1.4 billion would become a global sporting power. Now, that ambition is acquiring concrete shape. India’s push to host the 2036 Olympic Games is not just a symbolic aspiration; it is a national project blending sport, infrastructure, diplomacy and global branding.
At the heart of the bid is Ahmedabad, which has been officially projected as India’s proposed host city in communications with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Indian delegation, led by the Indian Olympic Association and Government representatives, has already initiated formal engagement with the IOC in Lausanne.
Evolution of idea
Prime Minister NarendraModi first articulated the dream publicly during the IOC Session in Mumbai in 2023, describing it as the aspiration of every Indian. Since then, the idea has evolved into a larger vision of positioning India as a major global sporting destination.
The proposed Olympic blueprint is ambitious. Media reports suggest that Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar could anchor the Games, while several events may be spread across cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar under a multi-city model. The proposed investment includes massive sports complexes, athlete villages, transport upgrades and urban redevelopment projects.
The bid reflects a deeper national transformation. Over the past decade, India has steadily expanded its sporting ecosystem through schemes like Khelo India, TOPS and grassroots talent programmes. Olympic sports that once lived in obscurity – athletics, badminton, wrestling, boxing, shooting and hockey – now command television ratings, endorsements and public attention.
Equally significant is the political dimension. Much like China used the 2008 Beijing Olympics to announce its arrival as a superpower, India sees 2036 as an opportunity to showcase before the world its economic strength, urban modernisation and organisational capability. The Olympics today are not merely a sporting event; they are geopolitical theatre.
The timing also suits India’s broader global ambitions. From G20 leadership to semiconductor missions and infrastructure expansion, New Delhi increasingly seeks recognition as a leading global power. Hosting the Olympics would fit neatly into that narrative.Yet the road ahead is not without hurdles.
India still struggles with inconsistent sporting culture, inadequate grassroots coaching, governance disputes and periodic doping controversies. Critics also warn against extravagant spending in a country where sporting infrastructure remains uneven beyond metropolitan centres. Memories of controversies surrounding the 2010 Commonwealth Games continue to linger in international sporting circles.
There is also intense competition. Countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others are believed to be exploring bids for 2036. The IOC itself has paused aspects of future host selection procedures for review.
Unmistakable momentum
Still, there is unmistakable momentum behind India’s sporting push. Hosting events such as the Cricket World Cup, MotoGP, international marathons and possible future Commonwealth Games has strengthened confidence that India can manage mega-events on a global scale.
Whether or not India ultimately secures the 2036 Olympics, the bid itself may become transformative. If pursued seriously, it could accelerate investment in sports science, athlete training, urban infrastructure and youth participation.
For a nation long defined by cricket alone, the Olympic dream may finally become the catalyst for building a true sporting culture
Reshaping India’s global identity
India’s Olympic ambition is not just about hosting a mega sporting spectacle; it is about reshaping the country’s global identity.
If India wins the right to host the 2036 Games, it would become only the fourth Asian nation to stage the Summer Olympics. More importantly, it would signal India’s arrival as a mature economic and geopolitical power.
The proposed Olympic push is expected to trigger massive investments in infrastructure, transport networks, sports academies, tourism and urban development. Sports experts believe the Games could revolutionise India’s athletic culture by boosting grassroots training, sports science and international exposure for young athletes.
At another level, the Olympics would enhance India’s soft power. The Games could become a showcase of India’s culture, diversity, infrastructure and economic scale before a global television audience.
