India’s Minister of Sports Anurag Thakur has hinted at the country’s desire to host the Summer Olympics in 2036.
In an interview with the Times of India newspaper, the Sports Minister noted that the country's versatility in various fields and technological advancement made India a favourite pick for the sporting event.
Some of the sports events held in India include the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982 and the Common Wealth Games in 2010.
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“Now is the right time… If India is in the news in all sectors, from manufacturing to services, then why not in sports? " Anurag Thakur posed.
Thakur specified that New Delhi could be presented as the host city of the 2036 Olympic Games.
The Sports Minister added that Gujarat (the Indian state where New Delhi is located) has the required infrastructure to hold the Olympic Games.
Other possible candidates for the Olympic Games in 2036 include Qatar, South Korea Germany and Indonesia.
The Sports Minister also noted that the government would hold consultations with the Indian Olympic Association to prepare a roadmap ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai come 2023.
“The IOC session is a prestigious event for India and whatever steps are taken to bid with the IOA, the government will support them,” he added.
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