Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s ambitions of hosting the 2036 summer Olympics in his first Independence Day speech after taking office for the third time since 2014.
“India will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organise the Olympics in India in 2036,” Modi said in his 11th annual address to the South Asian nation.
“This is the age-old dream of 140 crore (1.4 billion) Indians ... it is their aspiration ... This dream has to be built with your cooperation and support,” the 73-year-old added.
The declaration of intent came on the heels of India initiating a dialogue with the Future Host Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a first step towards the bidding process, the government has told parliament.
Modi’s pitch
Modi, kicking off India’s 78th Independence Day celebrations, argued the country’s successes in hosting global events established its capacity.
“India organising the G20 Summit (last September) has proven that we have the capability to organise large-scale events,” he said in Hindi language as the day was celebrated in several countries.
Besides India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Turkey are strong contenders for the 2036 Games.
Modi’s potential bid is expected to draw the backing of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani who runs the 100-billion-euro Reliance Industries group, media reported.
IOC President Thomas Bach has said India had a "strong case" to stake its claim for the 2036 Games.
The 2028 Games will be held in Los Angeles while Brisbane will host the 2032 fixture.
India’s image took a battering during the shambolic 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi amid allegations large scale corruption was a cause for the chaos.
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India’s struggle
A total of 117 Indian athletes competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics but won a single silver and five bronze while the hunt was on for 69 medals in 16 sporting events.
Analysts say India must sponsor unproven talent to transform into a sporting nation before hosting the Games 12 years from now.
“Our elite athletes now get the facilities that they want... while at the grassroots level, sport still craves for attention and support..” sports writer Sashank Shekhar said in comments published in the Times of India a day after the Paris Games ended on 11 August.
In 2017, Modi set up centres in 679 districts and handed out millions of euros to promote sports in cricket-crazy India, which has so far won 41 Olympics medals with athlete Norman Pritchard opening the account with dual silver in Paris 1900.
Modi also extended his wishes to athletes scheduled to participate in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games which kicks off on 28 August.
India fields its largest-ever contingent of 84 athletes who will compete in 12 events.
2047 dream
On Thursday, Modi also pledged to continue on his government’s "path of reform" to turn India into a developed nation by 2047 – the year the country marks its 100th year of freedom from British colonial rule.
“Before independence, 400 million Indians showed courage, dedication and bravery and broke the shackles of colonial rule despite all adversaries.
“If 400 million Indians could do this, then 1.4 billion Indians could do wonders. Despite all challenges we can make India into a developed nation by 2047,” he added in a 90-minute speech that stressed India's economic boom.
Last year, India overtook Britain as the fifth largest economy and it is set to surpass Japan and Germany and grab the third slot by 2027, according to Morgan Stanley global financial services firm.
But critics say a brutal lockdown during the pandemic, reckless project in 2016 to trash 86 percent of cash and taxes have pushed unemployment to record heights, crashed small businesses, hit India’s middle class and pushed the poor deeper into poverty.
