India has decided to bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, with the government working to plug gaps in the country’s sports infrastructure and develop world-class facilities capable of hosting major international sporting events, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Mandaviya stated that a detailed assessment had been conducted to identify deficiencies in sports infrastructure nationwide. Based on this analysis, a comprehensive plan has been prepared to create facilities that match international standards.
“We will also bring the infrastructure owned by different central, state, and private entities under one umbrella and analyse where we need to strengthen it,” the minister said. He added that the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi would soon be transformed into a global-standard sports city.
Mandaviya stated that the government will also announce a new scheme for sports equipment and goods manufacturing in the near future. He noted that the recent visit of international football star Lionel Messi to various Indian cities had helped boost sports culture and public interest in sports across the country.
“In the coming years, you will see the medals tally improving and India getting more laurels at the international level,” the minister said. Referring to reports of mismanagement at some venues that hosted Messi-related events, he said the organisation of such large-scale sporting events was steadily improving.
“We recently organised the World Para-Athletic Championship. Arranging facilities for such an event is not easy, but we managed to organise it quite well,” he added.
Mandaviya, who also holds the charge of the labour and employment ministry, also outlined the government’s decision to repeal 26 existing labour laws and replace them with four consolidated labour codes. He said these reforms are aimed at strengthening India’s workforce and supporting long-term economic growth.
