Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's bid to host the 2036 Olympics from his address at the Red Fort on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day on Saturday. He highlighted that India should not only increase its participation in the Olympics but also focus on sports and events where the country's presence is currently very low or non-existent.
Modi stated that there are approximately 40 sports and between 325 to 350 events in the Olympics, but India is unable to participate in this large number of events, and Indian athletes do not even qualify in many sports. He emphasized the need for India to strengthen its presence in such sports now.
The Prime Minister firmly stated that the 2036 Olympics should be held in India. He mentioned that immense potential exists in the sports where India currently does not participate, where it fails to qualify, and where the country has been distant until now. For this reason, India will now focus on these specific areas. Since a large number of athletes will be required for the 2036 Olympics, a 'Sports Talent Hunt Campaign' will be immediately launched across the country—in every village, city, and school.
The objective of this campaign is to identify hidden talents at a young age and provide them with high-level training. The Prime Minister specifically mentioned focusing on children aged 5 to 15, and also emphasized promoting the sporting talent of daughters. After evaluating the children's abilities, they will be given specialized training according to their interest and capability, enabling them to represent the country in the future.
Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction that India has been continuously progressing in the sports world in recent years. He described the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, as a significant support system for athletes. According to him, this scheme has helped India's top athletes perform excellently on the international stage. He also mentioned the work being done in areas such as 'Khelo India Games', University Games, Beach Games, and Winter Games, along with sports training, sports medicine, and sports nutrition. He said that India's performance in international competitions is improving, and the tricolor is seen flying highest on many occasions.
India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, and Ahmedabad is also in the race to host the 2036 Olympics. Prime Minister Modi clarified that strengthening the sports infrastructure and athlete preparation is extremely essential for India's Olympic bid. In the recently held Commonwealth Games, India won a total of 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze medals, placing India fourth in the medal tally. However, this competition was relatively small and did not include India's traditionally strong sports like wrestling, badminton, table tennis, hockey, and shooting. Despite this, Indian athletes performed admirably in boxing, judo, weightlifting, and para sports.
Currently, India's focus is on the Asian Games taking place in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. In the context of the 2036 Olympics bid, the emphasis placed by the Prime Minister on the sports talent search campaign is considered significant. The message delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Red Fort was not limited only to current medal winners but also focused on developing new talents in sports where India's presence has previously been weak. The government's goal is to identify talents at a young age and provide them with long-term training and necessary facilities so that India can build a strong and comprehensive sports talent base by the time of the potential 2036 Olympics.
