Union Minister of Sports said the Govt will back the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) bid for hosting the 2036 Games.
The next three Olympic Games in 2024, 2028 and 2032 will be hosted by Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane respectively with India eyeing on the 2036 edition.
Ahmedabad is the most suitable ‘host city’ in India owing to its sports infrastructure.
The roadmap for India’s bid will be presented to the International Olympic Committee during the IOC session in Mumbai in September 2023 and final decision will be taken somewhere b/w 2025 and 2029.
10 countries including Egypt, England, Indonesia, Germany & Qatar have expressed their interest in being the host.
The Olympic Committee evaluates a country’s proposal over multiple themes, varying from logistics, like transportation and security, infrastructure, overall concept of the games, marketing aspects, financial & political scenario, etc. The process culminates with the final voting of the IOC Members.
Although India has the experience of hosting the Asian Games (1982) and the Commonwealth Games (2010) but hosting the Olympics is another ball game.
It is a significant financial commitment, with the average cost of the previous four editions estimated at $28 billion.
Though it is prestigious being the host, it takes a toll on the country’s finances because the amount spent is not always matched by the international sponsorship deal and global media rights.
Host nations justify the expenses saying it will be a major economic lift by creating jobs, drawing tourists, and boosting overall economic output.
But there is little evidence for an overall positive economic impact and very few examples of host nations yielding positive returns even in the long run.
That being said, it is indeed a positive step towards sports development and promotion in India and if selected as the host, it will open a gateway for many Indian Athletes to be a part of the Olympics due to the auto qualification rules. We will also see bigger investments overall training of athletes.
Well planned & Cost Effective Games could be a legacy that India leaves for other nations. 🏅
-ABILASH RATHNAKARAN