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New Delhi/Ahmedabad. India has officially submitted its claim to host the Olympic Games in 2036. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly expressed this intention to the world citing recent reforms like the National Sports Governance Act. However, as exciting as this journey looks, there are many big obstacles in its path like administrative challenges, infrastructure and global performance of the players.

In the race to host Ahmedabad’s masterplan and economic investment, India has projected Ahmedabad in Gujarat as the main centre. An investment of about 4.1 billion to 7.5 billion dollars (about Rs 34,000 to 62,000 crore) is estimated in the Olympic vision prepared for Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. India hopes that the experience of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games will strengthen its bid for the Olympics. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has raised concerns on three main points: administrative discord within the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), rising doping cases and India’s lagging behind in the medal tally at the Olympics.

Divided opinion of experts: Sports stalwarts seem to be divided into two groups regarding India’s preparations. Former team doctor P.S.M. Experts like Chandran believe that issues like doping and pollution are being given excessive importance. He argues that Ahmedabad is in a much better position than Delhi and the hosting decision depends more on money and influence than the medal tally. At the same time, veteran athletes like Anju Bobby George believe that the ‘National Sports Governance Bill’ will bring transparency in sports associations and India is now fully capable of competing with countries like Germany.

Global competition and the race to host the 2040s and 2036 is not easy. Countries like Indonesia, Türkiye, Chile, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are already in the queue. Analysts like sports journalist Sharda Ugra believe that India should host several world championships to prove its worth. According to him, Ahmedabad’s Air Quality Index (AQI) and infrastructure still require improvement on global standards. A section of experts also believe that if success is not achieved in 2036, the 2040s may be a more practical and mature time for India.

Ultimately, hosting the Olympics will be not just a sporting event, but a showcase of India’s ‘soft power’ and emerging economic power. The IOC’s final decision is expected by the end of 2027, by which time India will have to work hard on its administrative structure and doping-free sports culture.