New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphatically reiterated India’s ambition to host the Olympic Games, declaring that the country would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to bring the world’s biggest sporting spectacle to Indian shores. His statement comes at a time when India is actively lobbying for the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics, buoyed by the announcement that the country will host the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in 2030.
Addressing a gathering while inaugurating the National Volleyball event via video conference, the Prime Minister said India is now fully prepared to bid for the Olympics, citing its growing experience in hosting large-scale international sporting events and its improving sports infrastructure.
“India is ready,” says Prime Minister
PM Modi underlined that over the past decade, India has successfully organised several global sporting events, demonstrating its organisational capacity and readiness to host a mega event like the Olympics.
“You may have noticed that over the past decade, several cities have hosted more than 20 international events, including the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, the Hockey World Cup, and various chess tournaments,” the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting India’s expanding footprint on the global sports map, he added, “The 2030 Commonwealth Games are also scheduled to be held in India. India is now actively preparing to bid for the 2036 Olympics.”
According to the Prime Minister, these experiences have strengthened India’s confidence and capability to meet the complex logistical, infrastructural and administrative demands associated with hosting the Olympics.
Commonwealth Games 2030 seen as a major stepping stone
The confirmation that India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games is being widely seen as a crucial milestone in the country’s Olympic ambitions. Hosting the CWG will help India meet two critical requirements for staging the Olympics — large-scale infrastructure development and enhanced sporting performance.
The 2030 Games will mark India’s return as CWG hosts after two decades, the last being the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. While the 2010 event was marred by controversy and allegations of corruption, it also left behind a significant legacy in terms of sports infrastructure and urban development.
Sports administrators believe that the 2030 CWG will provide India an opportunity to showcase improved governance, transparency and execution, thereby strengthening its case before the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Experience in hosting global events
PM Modi specifically cited India’s track record in hosting major international tournaments as evidence of its preparedness. The FIFA U-17 World Cup, hosted in 2017, was India’s first FIFA event and was widely praised for fan engagement and organisation. Similarly, the Hockey World Cups, hosted in Odisha in 2018 and 2023, were conducted on a grand scale and helped revive interest in the sport domestically.
In addition, India has emerged as a regular host of global chess tournaments and other international competitions, reflecting its growing stature in world sports.
Officials point out that these events have helped build expertise across multiple domains, including venue management, security, broadcasting, athlete services and volunteer mobilisation.
Jay Shah stresses medal targets alongside hosting dreams
India’s Olympic aspirations were also echoed earlier by Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), who spoke about the need for the country to not only host the Olympics but also significantly improve its medal tally.
Speaking at the Run for Girl Child Half Marathon 2.0 in Surat, Shah said hosting global sporting events must go hand in hand with stronger on-field performances.
“The Prime Minister has brought the Commonwealth Games to India in 2030, but we shouldn’t stop there. We must also bring the 2036 Olympics to India,” Shah said.
Referring to India’s performance at the 2024 Olympics, where the country won eight medals, Shah stressed that such numbers would not be sufficient if India wants to establish itself as a global sporting powerhouse.
Ambitious target of 100 medals
Jay Shah set an ambitious benchmark for India at the 2036 Olympics, calling for a massive leap in medal achievements.
“We won eight medals in the 2024 Olympics, but I want to tell you all that eight medals won’t be enough in 2036,” he said. “We have to win at least 100 medals. Of those 100 medals, we will win at least 10 from Gujarat. I have complete faith in that.”
His remarks underline a growing emphasis on grassroots development, athlete support systems and long-term planning to improve India’s competitiveness across multiple sports disciplines.
Road ahead for India’s Olympic bid
While the government has not officially announced a host city for the proposed 2036 Olympic bid, cities such as Ahmedabad, Delhi NCR and Mumbai have often been mentioned in discussions. Experts say that factors such as connectivity, climate, availability of land and existing infrastructure will play a key role in the final decision.
The Olympic bid process is expected to be highly competitive, with several countries expressing interest in hosting the 2036 Games. However, India’s large market, growing economy and expanding sports ecosystem are seen as strong advantages.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s renewed push for hosting the Olympics signals India’s determination to emerge as a major global sporting hub. With the 2030 Commonwealth Games acting as a crucial rehearsal and growing emphasis on improving medal performance, India’s Olympic dream is steadily gaining momentum. While significant challenges remain, the government’s intent and increasing international exposure suggest that the quest to bring the Olympics to India is no longer aspirational alone, but a carefully planned national objective.