Wankhede Stadium to host cricket at Olympics 2036? India’s bid for the Video games could be a multi-city plan

India is making a historic bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, which would be a first for the subcontinent. The Indian Olympic Association has already submitted a letter of intent to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his support for the bid.

Ahmedabad at the Heart of Pan-India Vision

While Ahmedabad emerges as the focal point of India’s Olympic aspirations, the government envisions a broader, nationwide celebration of sports. The city is preparing infrastructure worth Rs. 6000 crores, including the upcoming Naranpura Sports Complex and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave surrounding the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, the plan extends beyond Gujarat’s borders, proposing a unique pan-India approach to hosting the Games.

A potential plan could involve spreading the events across different cities, with Mumbai hosting cricket, Pune hosting kayaking, Bhopal hosting canoeing, and Bhubaneshwar hosting hockey, among others. If in Mumbai, the Wankhede Stadium would be an automatic choice to host cricket!

“This is something in the making. How the final picture will look, none of us know right now. We will make a plan and present it to the IOC. Based on those conversations, decisions will be taken,” an official said this to Indian Express. “We want to take the sports to other parts of India and make it a movement for the full country.” “The Olympics can be a motivating factor, but these are aimed for the larger public good in terms of health and recreation as well as making the city a destination for international sports,” the official said.

This approach aims to transform the Olympics into a national movement, engaging multiple cities and regions. However, India faces stiff competition from at least ten other potential host cities, including strong bids expected from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The nation’s experience in hosting major sporting events remains limited to the Asian Games of 1951 and 1982, along with the Commonwealth Games in 2010.