After 2010 Commonwealth Games, 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, India will host the World Boxing Finals 2025.
India has also shown interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
In their bid to transform India into a sport-forward nation, the government is already re-building sports infrastructure in Ahmedabad and Bhubaneshwar. But will India truly become ready to host the quadrennial showpiece event by 2036, eminent personalities from the sports fraternity answer during the Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave.
‘Olympic Games Will Provide Purpose And Direction’
“Absolutely, without a doubt, we should host the Olympics. The London Olympics spent $12 billion, but within the first year, they generated $10 billion in tourism revenue alone. With a population of 1.5 billion, 40% of whom are under 25, it’s a no-brainer. The Olympic Games would provide the youth with purpose and direction,” former AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said.
‘Need A Concrete Plan’
“We conducted the best Commonwealth Games ever, but what legacy did it leave? Corruption scandals overshadowed the event, and we failed to capitalise on the 107 medals we won. If we host the Olympics, we need a concrete plan for post-event development — ensuring that the Games inspire people and leave behind sustainable sports infrastructure,” Pullela Gopichand said.
‘We Should Aim For 2046 Instead’
“I’ve been to Sydney, Beijing and London, and the atmosphere is electrifying when your athletes are podium contenders. Host nations usually get wild card entries in every sport, but are we prepared to compete at that level across disciplines? If we want to be a sporting superpower, we should first focus on strengthening our athletes rather than just hosting a $15 billion event. Maybe, we should aim for 2046 instead,” tennis legend Mahesh Bhupati said.
‘2036 Olympics Could Be Catalyst’
“Squash is making its Olympic debut at LA 2028, and hopefully, it will remain for Brisbane 2032 and beyond. Hosting the Olympics is the pinnacle of sports, and every athlete dreams of winning an Olympic gold. While Mahesh makes a valid point about our competitive readiness, I also believe that securing the 2036 Olympics could act as a catalyst for Indian sports. It could push the entire sporting ecosystem to improve, just as hosting the cricket World Cup added urgency to India’s preparation,” Saurav Ghoshal said.