India’s Long Game – Empowering Olympians and the Path to a 2036 Summer Olympics

As the Paris Olympics comes to an end, I write on India's sporting infrastructure and aspirations to host the 2036 edition of the Summer Olympics. Whilst a 2036 Olympics in India - the bid for which was announced by Prime Minister Modi & seconded in Paris itself by IOC member Nita Ambani, might not be a far-fetched dream, I demonstrate the range of complexities and things to consider in the lead-up to the Games. I take into account India's performance at the Games, its underrepresentation in relation to other national contingents, and the often-politicised question of return on investment to advocate for a threefold policy approach aimed at enhancing our domestic sporting facilities and targeted to boost our capabilities to host an event of such magnitude. In conclusion, I suggest that the Parisian model, which emphasises maximum utilisation of the existing infrastructure and minimal exclusive public investment in the Games might present a desirable prototype that India looks to put to test in 2036.