Game Plan for India’s Success as 2036 Olympic Host (GS Paper 2, Governance)
Context
- India's aspiration to host the 2036 Olympic Games was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2024 Independence Day speech.
- This ambition highlights India's growing interest in becoming a major player in global sports.
- Despite challenges related to infrastructure and past underperformance in hosting large-scale international events, India's sporting capabilities and existing infrastructure in states like Tamil Nadu and Odisha offer promising support for this bid.
India’s Olympic Dream for 2036
- India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics represents a significant leap in its sports aspirations.
- Historically, India has not hosted the Olympics, and its infrastructure for such an event is not yet at the world-class level seen in past host cities.
- However, the country's recent advancements in sports and infrastructure development provide a solid foundation for pursuing this goal.
- Success in this bid will require both domestic and international support, emphasizing the need for comprehensive planning and consensus-building.
Olympic Host Selection Process
The process for selecting an Olympic host city has evolved, particularly following corruption issues associated with past events like Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Key aspects of the selection process include:
- Future Host Commission (FHC): The IOC's Future Host Commission conducts a confidential dialogue with candidate cities to evaluate their feasibility, environmental impact, and adherence to human rights standards.
- Election Timeline: The final decision on the 2036 host city will be made in 2026, necessitating a well-prepared bid that meets all the IOC’s criteria.
India’s Sports Development Initiatives
India's journey towards hosting the Olympics has been bolstered by several key initiatives:
- 2010 Commonwealth Games: The successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi showcased India's capability to manage international sporting events.
- National Sports Development Code: Introduced to reform sports associations and enhance transparency in sports governance.
- Khelo India Scheme (2017): This program aims to improve grassroots sports infrastructure and talent identification. The Khelo India Rising Talent Identification program focuses on athletes aged 9-18, with 28 participants from this program competing in the Paris Olympics.
Sports Infrastructure in Indian States
In India, sports development is primarily managed at the state level. Key states making strides in sports infrastructure include:
- Tamil Nadu: Known for its advanced sports infrastructure, Tamil Nadu plans to develop a Global Sports City near Chennai. This project includes state-of-the-art facilities like stadiums, athletic tracks, and a velodrome. Tamil Nadu also hosts international events in beach sports.
- Odisha: Following Tamil Nadu, Odisha has developed significant sports infrastructure and recently hosted the FIH Hockey World Cup 2023.
- Delhi: As a major city with existing infrastructure, Delhi is also a key player in the country's Olympic bid.
Leveraging Existing Infrastructure
- Building new infrastructure for the Olympics is costly. Paris 2024 minimized costs by using existing venues.
- India could adopt a similar strategy by leveraging its existing infrastructure in states like Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Odisha.
- This approach can help reduce costs and promote sustainability.
Collaborative Approach to India’s Olympic Bid
For a successful Olympic bid, India must adopt a collaborative and inclusive approach:
- Stakeholder Engagement: The Union Government should lead the initiative, forming a multi-stakeholder committee to oversee the planning and execution of the bid.
- State Involvement: States with existing infrastructure should be integral to the planning process. Their participation will align the bid with the IOC’s criteria and demonstrate a unified approach.
- Alignment with FHC Criteria: The bid must align with the Future Host Commission’s criteria, addressing feasibility, sustainability, and human rights.
Conclusion
- India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics is a monumental step towards becoming a significant player in global sports.
- Success will depend on addressing infrastructure challenges, leveraging existing facilities, and building broad-based support.
- By adopting a collaborative and strategic approach, India can enhance its chances of winning the bid and showcasing its growing sporting potential on the world stage.
