Opportunities to improve India's infrastructure

India is bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, which is a great opportunity to boost investment in the country's infrastructure.

India is bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, which is a huge opportunity to boost investment in the country’s infrastructure. However, it is important to ensure that the benefits of the event are distributed equitably among local communities.

India, the world's most populous country, has never hosted the Olympics, although its capital New Delhi hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982, and the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

India won 7 medals including 1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. This is India's best performance at an Olympics. Illustrative photo

Ahmedabad, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, is expected to be central to India's plans to host the Games, but a multi-city bidding strategy cannot be ruled out.

Former FIFA Council member (the highest decision-making body of the International Football Federation), Ms. Moya Dodd, who worked on the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said developing facilities for the Olympics will bring long-term benefits to the country.

This is a great opportunity to promote investment in sports infrastructure. These investments will pay dividends for many years to come. It is important to ensure that these investments are deployed in the right places, for the right people and with a holistic view of the issue.

The 2036 Olympics is a huge opportunity, not just in hosting but also in improving the communities that will host it, Ms Dodd added.

Indonesia, Türkiye and Chile have confirmed their intentions to join the race to host the 2036 Olympics, while several other countries, including Egypt and South Korea, are also expected to participate.

Former Australian footballer Dodd stressed the need to create a legacy from hosting the Games. It was important to ensure that the model adopted was not only beneficial to the nation, but also inclusive, uplifting and created a real legacy after the event, not just short-term benefits.

“ This is important because we always say sport is a wonderful thing, it is good for health and it benefits everyone. Let's make sure it doesn't harm or disadvantage anyone just because of a big event ," Ms Dodd added.

India has not fared well at previous Olympics, winning a total of 41 medals so far. The seven medals it won in Tokyo four years ago remains its best showing at a single Olympics.

India won 10 gold medals, including eight from hockey between 1928 and 1980, along with one each in athletics and shooting.

Former Indian hockey captain Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, who helped his team win bronze medals at Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, said there was a need to invest in developing the next generation of athletes. The 2036 Olympics is the time to tap talent from the age of 12 to 14.

India, the world's most populous country, has never hosted the Olympics, although its capital New Delhi hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982, and the Commonwealth Games in 2010 .

Source: https://congthuong.vn/olympic-2036-co-hoi-cai-thien-co-so-ha-tang-an-do-378493.html