India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics is not just aimed making a statement internationally, but also a well thought out plan to create world-class infrastructure and bolster the economy, Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse has said.
Khadse, the 38-year-old three-time Lok Sabha MP from Raver constituency in Maharashtra, dismissed the contention that India should focus more on becoming a sporting powerhouse before aiming for something as costly as hosting the Olympics.
“Preparing to host events like the 2036 Olympics or the 2030 Commonwealth Games is about creating world-class infrastructure, economic investment and legacy systems that directly contribute to athlete development,” said Khadse.
India’s bid to host the Games will gain momentum next month when a delegation of sports ministry and Indian Olympic Association officials go to Lausanne for deliberations with the International Olympic Committee. India had submitted its letter of intent in this regard last year.
Emphasising that hosting the Games and developing Indian sports should not be seen in isolation, the minister cited the example of the World Para-Athletics Championships in Delhi later this year, because of which the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is being renovated with a MondoTrack, the most advanced surface for track events globally. “We are ensuring that every rupee spent has a long-term multiplier impact,” said Khadse.
Minister for focusing on athletes, not politics
India’s Olympics bid would also have to coincide with a cohesive administrative system to work seamlessly, but the country’s National Sports Federations (NSFs) have often been embroiled in turf wars and one-upmanship, leading to court cases that end up harming the prospects of athletes. Khadse said the ministry is focusing on accountability without compromising on autonomy of the administrators to ensure better coordination.
“There should be no politics and athletes should be the focus, their growth should be priority. The federations should have the autonomy, but there should also be greater harmony between them and the ministry. It is very important to achieve this if we are aiming to host the 2036 Olympics. But it would need a cohesive approach. The ministry, NSFs and the IOA cannot pull in different directions. Their goal has to align,” she said.
‘It is not right to criminalise doping’
Another burning problem for Indian sports is doping. The country continues to rank high in the list of dope offenders. Commenting on the situation, Khadse said that though she supports penal action against those who encourage minors to indulge in doping, it is not right to criminalise it.
The minister said the recently amended National Anti-Doping Act 2022 already empowers the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) with legal authority and investigative powers similar to law enforcement bodies. “We want to start compulsory anti-doping education as well as randomised testing at state and junior levels,” she said.
