India Starts Preparations for 2036 Olympics

Amid positive indications from different quarters that have high stakes in selection of an Olympics venue, India has started preparations for hosting it in 2036.

Among the contenders who have bid for organising the game in 2036, South Korea is the only bidder that had previously the privilege of hosting the world event. It is presumed that in selection of a venue the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gives preference to the bid of a country which has not got the opportunity to organise the game. 

With this advantage along with the other new claimants for wangling the game in its favour, India’s growing economic clout might also be taken into consideration while deciding the venue. IOC members’ predilections also come into play in the Committee’s deliberations for choosing a country for the quadrennial world sporting jamboree. 

It also is a common knowledge that the present and outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach (Germany) has not been favourable to India hosting the game. But whoever wins the post between the supposedly main contenders–former British Olympian Sebastian Coe and Spaniard Juan Antonio– in the coming election to the Committee scheduled between March 20-21 in Lausanne (Switzerland), India will be in a win - win situation as both the contestants have in the past made statements that they want a country like India to host the Olympics. 

The fact that both Coe and Samaranch have been very clear and unequivocal about their support to India hosting the Games is a plus factor since one of them is likely going to be elected as the next IOC President. This could not have happened at a more opportune time. “The IOC Presidential election could not have happened at a better time,” says R Mukundan who has been representing India at the IOC. 

India also got a boost for the bid from France, which hosted the last Olympics in 2028, when French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to India last year promised all help and expertise the French Olympic Council could extend if India won the bid for the Games.  “Normally, there are few instances when a host country comes on record to help a potential host. “To me, France’s unequivocal and full support to India is something which will really boost our chances of hosting the Games,” Mukundan says.

Another interesting aspect is that India will be also bidding to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games –which will provide the perfect litmus test for the country’s preparedness for the Olympics. 

“It's very important that India successfully conducts multi-disciplinary games events apart from the Olympics. Asian Games and Commonwealth Games fall in this category. With this view in mind, India has bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Delhi has already hosted this sporting event in 2010, and a second successful hosting would tilt the scales in India’s favour for the Olympics,” Mukundan feels.   

There is credible information that Ahmedabad might be chosen as the main city for the inaugural and closing functions of the Olympics 2036. The Narendra Modi cricket stadium--- the largest cricket stadium in the world, has the capacity to seat one lakh plus spectators, and in all probability the two events might be organised there.  Apart from this, Ahmedabad might also be hosting blue-ribbon events— track and field events. 

An official of the Gujarat State Olympic Association in a talk with this journalist says that the work in the track and field stadium near the Narendra Modi stadium has started. “The work on the athletics track is happening at a very fast pace. We would like to finish it over the next three years.  We will be readying the infrastructure much before the beginning of the Olympics,” says the official.

He also said that another likely major hub for the Olympics– Sardar Vallabhbhai Sports Enclave, which might be hosting key events like cycling and tennis, is also currently being re-constructed. It might also be having athletes village. 

“We have to ensure the Sardar Vallabhbhai Enclave meets international standards. We are taking the support of foreign firms to make it of world standards,” the official says.

“The Narendra Modi Stadium and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Sports Enclave would be of world standards. We had our people visit a few leading sports infrastructure facilities built for the Olympics in Paris and Tokyo (Tokyo hosted the 2020 Olympics) to get a first-hand feel of the stadiums there. So, we are systematic and organized in going about our preparations for building world class sports infrastructures,” says the official further.            

The other sports complexes in and around Ahmedabad where construction works are currently going on is the Naranpura Sports Complex. This multi-purpose facility, spread over 20 acres, is set to be completed this month. When completed, it will be the largest venue for conducting gymnastic and other floor events.  

Another major sports complex is the Karai Sports Complex in Gandhinagar which might be hosting athletics and shooting events.  It is mandatory under the Olympics rules to organise events at different places across the country chosen for it as the IOC motto is that the spirit of the games reaches different corners of the hosting nation.

 So, apart from Ahmedabad, Bhuvneshwar, Pune, and Delhi are in the reckoning for different events. An Indian Olympic Association (IOA) official tells this correspondent that Bhubaneswar might be considered a venue to conduct hockey matches. The city hosted the World Cup hockey in 2023. Apart from it, this venue regularly hosts FIH Pro Hockey League (one of the leading tournaments in world hockey) regularly.

It makes it suitable for hockey matches. Pune is also being considered as a likely city for hosting canoeing and Kayaking events. There is also speculation that Mumbai would be added as a host city for cricket matches, since it has hosted the 2011 World Cup final and multiple IPL finals.  

Cricket (T20) will make its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.  As a run up to the 2036 Olympics, India is preparing to host a series of major events in various disciplines.  

2028 Under-20 World Athletics Championships, 2030 Youth Olympics (junior Olympics), Asian Sailing Championships, World Athletics Bronze Level Continental Tour 2025 and Badminton World Championships 2026 are some of the major events India is hosting which will allow it to smoothen the old rough edges in the run up to preparations for the Olympics 2036.