NEW DELHI – India is “seriously” considering a bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said.
The world’s second-most populous nation has previously hosted the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, and Thakur told the Times of India newspaper it was now the “right time” to host the Olympics.
“If India is making news in every sector, from manufacturing to services, then why not in the field of sports?” he said.
“India is looking very seriously at positively bidding for the 2036 Olympics. There is no reason for us to say no.
“If India is putting in so much effort to promote sports, I can assure you that we will not only host the Olympics, we will host it in a big way. This is the right time to host the Games.”
The International Olympic Committee has said it was in preliminary discussions with 10 cities but has not revealed a timeframe for when it plans to award the 2036 edition.
Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane host the next three Games.
Among potential rivals for the Games are Indonesia and South Korea, as well as Qatar, which hosted the recently concluded 2022 World Cup.
Germany is considering whether to launch another Olympic bid despite strong domestic opposition.
Thakur said his government would consult the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and prepare a roadmap ahead of the IOC session in Mumbai in 2023.
“The IOC session is a prestigious event for India and, whatever steps have to be taken to bid along with the IOA, the government will support them. It has to be a joint preparation,” he said.
New Delhi hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982 and the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Thakur suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat would be presented as a potential Olympic venue.
“Gujarat has several times expressed interest in hosting the Olympics,” he said.
“They have the infrastructure... from hotels, hostels, airports and sports complexes. It’s also part of the state government’s manifesto to host the Olympics in Gujarat.”
Thakur was also asked about the situation regarding Chinese athletes competing in India amid a new wave of Covid-19 in China.
The country will host badminton’s India Open in January, as well as the International Boxing Association women’s world boxing championships and the Asian wrestling meet in March.
The Times of India reported that all three events will have a significant number of Chinese athletes in attendance.
“If we look at the Tokyo Olympics, it was also organised during the peak of Covid-19,” he said.
“There will be protocols and guidelines for anyone entering India to follow. The athletes will also have to follow them.”
REUTERS
