India's sports minister Anurag Thakur has spoken up about the reports that the country is set to bid for the 2036 Olympics. Given India's progress in every major and minor sector, Thakur believes that India have the means to host the 2036 Olympics.
“If India can host the G20 Presidency in such a big way, I am sure the government will be able to pitch in to host the Olympics in the country along with the IOA. We all know that the slots are booked till 2032. But from 2036 onwards, we have hopes and I am sure India will fully prepare and bid for the Olympics,” Thakur told the Times of India in an exclusive interview.
The Union Minister has confirmed that the government will back the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) bid for hosting the Games and that Gujarat’s Ahmedabad will likely be the host city with world-class sporting infrastructure available there at present or with plans to build the same in the future.
The former BCCI President also added that the country I already equipped with hosting such events, having previously held the 1982 Asian Games and 2010 Commonwealth Games. This also means that the next step for them would be to host the Summer Olympics.
"The IOC session is a prestigious event for India and whatever steps have to be taken to bid along with the IOA, the government will support them. It has to be a joint preparation. Gujarat has several times expressed interest in hosting the Olympics," he said. "They have the infrastructure ... It's also part of the state government's manifesto to host the Olympics in Gujarat."
“Yes, India is ready to positively bid for it. There is no reason for us to say ‘No’. If India is putting in so much effort to promote sports, I can assure you that we will not only host the Olympics, we will host it in a big way. This is the right time to host the Games. If India is making news in every sector from manufacturing to services, then why not in sports? India is looking very seriously at bidding for the 2036 Olympics."
India had their best performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, hosted in 2021. They won seven medals — One gold, two silvers and four bronze medals.
