India Is Eager To Host 2036 Olympics, Says PM Modi

India aims to host 2036 Summer Olympics revealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (15 October). The nation is keen on organizing the quadrennial global sports event and is fully committed to making this aspiration a reality, he remarked.

With a successful bid, India will join the ranks of a select few Asian countries to host the Games.

“India eagerly anticipates hosting the Olympics and the country will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organise the 2036 Olympics. It’s a dream and aspiration of 140 crore Indians,” Mr. Modi stated, making the bid public before the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

However, Mr. Modi did not disclose which Indian city would bid to host the Games. He emphasized the significance of the IOC session taking place in India after 40 years and expressed the nation's willingness to host the 2029 Youth Olympics, confident of continuous support from the IOC.

He also shared the news of India’s win against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Saturday. “I congratulate Team Bharat and every Indian on this historic victory,” he announced.

Asserting that sports have been a significant aspect of Indian culture, Mr. Modi explained: “When you go to the villages of India, one can find that any festival remains incomplete without sports. Indians are not just sports lovers, but we also live it.”

“There are no losers in sports, only the winners and learners. The language and spirit of sports are universal. Sports is not mere competition. Sports gives humanity an opportunity to expand,” the PM articulated. “That is why records are celebrated globally. Sports also strengthen the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: One Earth, One Family, One Future,” he added.

He went on to outline recent steps taken for the development of sports in India, including the Khelo India Games, Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India Winter Games, Member of Parliament sports competitions, and the forthcoming Khelo India Para Games. “We are focusing on inclusivity and diversity in sports in India,” he said, noting that India is now excelling in international events.

Highlighting the long-standing sporting culture throughout India's history, Mr. Modi mentioned that from the Indus Valley civilization, the Vedic period or the subsequent eras, India’s sporting legacy has been rich.

He mentioned ancient texts detailing proficiency in 64 genres, including sports like horse riding, swimming, archery, and wrestling. He also provided evidence of this ancient sporting legacy, mentioning the Dholavira UNESCO World Heritage site in Gujarat and the sports infrastructure discovered in the urban planning of this 5000-year-old city.

During the excavation, Mr. Modi mentioned, two stadiums were found, one of them being the largest and oldest of its kind during that period. In Rakhigarhi too, sports-related structures have been discovered. “This sporting legacy of India belongs to the entire world,” he said, recognizing the positive shifts in the rapidly changing landscape of sports in India.

“Sports is not just for winning medals but is a medium to win hearts and it belongs to all for all. It not only prepares champions but also promotes peace, progress and wellness. Therefore, sports is another medium of uniting the world,” he expressed.

The session was inaugurated by Mr. Modi in the presence of IOC president Thomas Bach and member Nita Mukesh Ambani.