Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address from the Red Fort on the 78th Independence Day, declared India’s aspiration to host the 2036 Olympic Games. This announcement marks a significant step in India’s sporting ambitions on the global stage.
“It is the dream of India to host the 2036 Olympics, we are making preparations for that,” PM Modi said, highlighting the nation’s commitment to this goal. This declaration comes in the wake of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) initiating dialogue with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission (FHC), the first step in the bidding process.
The Prime Minister’s announcement aligns with recent confirmation from Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, who earlier this month reported on the initiation of the dialogue process in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
During his speech, PM Modi also congratulated Indian athletes for their achievements at the Paris Olympics, saying, “Today, we also have with us the youth who made the Indian flag fly high in the Olympics. On behalf of 140 crore countrymen, I congratulate all our athletes and players.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Paralympics, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to India’s Paralympic contingent. “In the next few days, a huge contingent of India will leave for Paris to participate in the Paralympics. I extend best wishes to all our Paralympians,” he said.
India is set to field its largest-ever contingent of 84 athletes for the Paris Paralympics, starting August 28. These athletes will compete across 12 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, canoeing, cycling, blind judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and taekwondo.
The country aims to build on its impressive performance at the Tokyo Paralympics, where it won 19 medals, and its historic 111-medal haul at the Para Asian Games.
Earlier, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries at the ramparts of Red Fort. The Prime Minister was pictured dressed in a white kurta and blue attire and a traditional multicolour safa.
(Inputs from ANI)