India Insights: Can India Host the World’s Biggest Games?
Commonwealth games
India has submitted an ‘expression of interest’ to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. It is also bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games in the west-Indian city of Ahmedabad. The nation has never hosted at the Olympics before, but it has experience hosting the Commonwealth games, which it hosted in 2010.
Eyeing this monumental goal, the South-Asian country is ready to cement its position as one of the leading sporting nations in the world, overcoming its previous dry spells in the big games. As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India believes it can generate the infrastructure needed to host the mammoth games. If successful, these events could redefine the country’s sports culture, and enhance its global reputation.
However, hosting a mega sporting event is not an east feat to achieve. India’s previous hosting of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi was marred by financial, logistical, and environmental controversies. Hence, as the world awaits the results of these bids, the question remains – Is India capable of making its Olympic dreams come true?
The Driving Forces Behind The Bid
As India’s performance in the recent sporting events has shown a major improvement, the country is now taking sports other than cricket more seriously than ever. Indian athletes and sportspersons have attained medals and proven to their people that sports can indeed be a lucrative career option.
The main driving force, however, is India’s Neeraj Chopra and his historic Olympic Gold in the Javelin Throw. India’s dominance in wrestling, weight-lifting, shooting, and badminton has also increased its success in the medal tallies. Hosting the Games would further accelerate this progress, inspiring future generations and fostering a stronger sporting ecosystem.
However, sporting achievements are not enough when it comes to an event as big as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. A successful bid will boost tourism, attract foreign investment, and create more jobs. While these are potential positive outcomes of winning the bid, India must also be prepared to adapt to the drastic changes and overcome any challenges they may bring.
The Challenges On The Road
Ahmedabad is rumored to be India’s preferred host city for the Olympics. The city has, in recent years, seen significant economic and infrastructural development. The Narendra Modi Stadium, which is the biggest cricket stadium in the world, is located here while a dedicated Olympic Park will be required if the bid comes to fruition. Airport expansions, metro projects, and improved road connectivity are in progress, but scaling up to meet Olympic-level standards is no small feat. India will need to fast-track its urban development to meet the rigorous demands of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ensure seamless logistics.
Another challenge is climate change. With rising global temperatures and extreme weather events, the climate impact of mega sporting events is a growing concern. India, already battling heatwaves, air pollution, and water shortages, must ensure the Games are as eco-friendly and sustainable as they can be.
Lessons From Past Hosts
Previous hosts of both the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games have lessons to teach which could give some valuable insights to make India’s bid a success.
The 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona, Spain, stand out as a great example of how the Games revitalized the city. Smart urban planning, including beachfront development and infrastructure upgrades, left a lasting legacy. For India, following a similar plan will be beneficial as its previous attempt at hosting the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi resulted in a lot of damage to the fabric of the city, with allegations regarding corruption, mismanagement and inadequate planning coming to the forefront. Instead of leaving a lasting positive impact, the Games led to infrastructure inefficiencies, the displacement of residents, and financial burdens.
The 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, didn’t fare well for the city either. Greece spent $11 billion on the Olympics, but poor planning left many venues abandoned. This led to a financial strain that contributed to Greece’s later economic crisis.
It is crucial that India learns from the hits and misses of previous hosts to ensure the overall success of the events, if selected.
India’s Path To Securing The Bid
The bidding process is not an easy one. Even though it might be easier to back the 2030 Commonwealth Games hosting bid, the path to hosting the 2036 Olympics will require competing with other bidders, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Success will require a mix of strategic planning, diplomatic efforts, and development of sports infrastructure.
International diplomacy and sports lobbying play an important role in winning such bids. India must actively engage with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) & International Olympic Committee (IOC), presenting progress reports regularly and improving relations with the key decision-makers. Another important step would be to secure sponsorships and financial backing to increase the brand power of the Games. And while the country waits for a decision to be made, it will need to host smaller-scale events to show its preparedness to play the big host for the big games.
As for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, bidders have until March 31 to send expressions of interest for hosting the 2030 edition. With careful planning and a well-executed strategy, India has the chance to secure its place on the world’s biggest sporting stage. The question remains: Can India rise to the occasion and turn this dream into reality?
