2036 Olympics in India? How Gujarat government is working towards making it a reality

The Gujarat government is working overtime to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream to see India host the 2036 Olympics. During the opening ceremony of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Annual Session in Mumbai in October, PM Modi had confirmed India's bid for the 20236 Olympics . “India is very excited to organise an Olympics. India will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organise the 2036 Olympics. It’s a dream of 140 crore Indians. With the support of IOC, we would want to fulfil this dream. “Sports is not just for winning medals but it is also the best way to win hearts. It not only gives rise to champions but also promotes peace,” Modi said during the event. The Gujarat state government has now earmarked a whopping Rs 6,000 crore to make the dream a reality. Here’s how they are progressing toward building the infrastructure. The state government has formed a separate company to build six sports complexes in Ahmedabad, this was revealed to the news agency PTI by an official. ‘Gujarat Olympic Planning and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd’ was constituted three months back and it has already hosted a board meeting. The company also put up a stall at the Vibrant Gujarat Trade Show 2024 which is currently underway. What work is being done? Six sports complexes will be built in Motera and surrounding areas. The sports complex will be called Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave and will be spread across 350 acres. The under-construction sports enclave will come around the Narendra Modi Stadium, which hosted the ODI World Cup 2023 final and is the biggest cricket stadium in the world. “To realise Prime Minister Modi’s dream of hosting the Olympics in the country, we have drawn a master plan to develop the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Motera and surrounding areas spread across 350 acres. As per the plan submitted by a design firm selected earlier through an open bid, six sports complexes will be constructed in an area of 350 acres,” an official revealed. To expedite the work, Gujarat Olympic Planning and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd recently issued tenders to hire firms that will design the sports complexes. “Firms selected through bidding will be responsible for preparing the layout of the entire area. They will also prepare a detailed structural as well as architectural design of these sports complexes. The company expects the construction of these sports complexes to be completed by 2030 so that India can pitch for the 2036 Olympics,” he said. Details of the company The Gujarat Urban Development and Urban Housing Department’s principal secretary serves as the chairperson of Gujarat Olympic Planning and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. The board of directors includes Ahmedabad’s municipal commissioner, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority CEO and director general of the Sports Authority of Gujarat among others. Amit Shah’s role Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been keeping a close eye on the work. He in fact had two meetings in December after PM Modi’s announcement. The meetings with Gujarat government officials centred around the state’s preparedness to host the 2036 Olympic Games. He has already expressed publicly that the government hopes the Olympics will be held at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in 2036. The BJP government in Gujarat has also shared the same views in the public domain.