Dream of 140 crore Indians to host 2036 Olympics, says PM Modi

NEW DELHI: India is eager to organise the Olympics and will leave no stone unturned in efforts to ensure that the games are held in the country in 2036, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.
Speaking at the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session at Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai, PM Modi said it is the “dream of 140 crore Indians” to host the Olympics.
2029 Youth Olympics
“India has exhibited capability to organise global sports tournament in recent times,” he added, while noting that the IOC Session is being held in India after a gap of 40 years, which “is a matter of great pride for us”.
“Before the 2036 Olympics, India also wants to host the 2029 Youth Olympics. I believe, India will get constant support from the IOC,” added PM Modi.
Cricket in Olympics?
He also welcomed IOC’s initiative to look into including Cricket in the Olympics. “We believe that soon we will get some positive news in this direction,” said the PM.
Ahmedabad touted as host city
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha had recently supported the government’s plan to place a proposal to host the 2036 Olympics.
“We should bid for the 2036 Olympics. I am sure India will win more medals in the Paris Olympics than in Tokyo, and then, with the medals to show, we can host the Olympics,” said the 59-year-old former track star.
Last year, Union sports minister Anurag Thakur had said India would present a roadmap before the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the IOC session in Mumbai.

Thakur said the government will back the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) bid for hosting the Games and that Gujarat’s Ahmedabad will likely be the ‘host city’ with world-class sporting infrastructure available there.
The Union minister said that with India having previously hosted the 1982 Asian Games and 2010 Commonwealth Games, the next logical pit stop was the Summer Olympics.
“If India can host the G20 Presidency in such a big way, I am sure the government will be able to pitch in to host the Olympics in the country along with the IOA. We all know that the slots are booked till 2032. But 2036 onwards, we have hopes and I am sure India will fully prepare and bid for the Olympics,” Thakur had said.