In an exclusive interview with News18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in India’s ability to host the Olympics, following the successful organization of the G20 Summit last year. He revealed that a dedicated team has been formed to study the logistics and management of upcoming global sporting events, including the 2029 Youth Olympics, 2024 Chess Olympiad, and World Beach Games, to prepare India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics.

“Anyone who has analyzed in detail the G20 Summit hosted by India last year is confident that now Bharat has the potential to host such global events,” Modi said. He added that the positive experience of hosting the G20 Summit has helped restore confidence after the negative impacts of the 2010 Commonwealth Games scandal.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the G20 Summit’s success, with events held across 60-70 locations in India, demonstrated the country’s capability to manage large-scale events. “This was a people-driven G20 and it shows how big India can go in hosting these events,” he said.

Highlighting the necessity of thorough preparation for hosting the Olympics, PM Modi mentioned forming a team to observe and study the intricacies of organizing such events. He recounted his experience at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, noting the importance of detailed management and coordination.

“We have to develop human resources, ready the infrastructure, understand what are the needs… At the same time, we have to prepare India’s athletes. If we are hosting the Olympics, how can someone else take the Gold medal?” he stated.

Prime Minister Modi had announced India’s intention to bid for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games in October last year, calling it “the age-old dream” for India. He assured that India would leave no stone unturned in its preparations for hosting the Olympics.

Apart from India, other countries competing for the 2036 bid include Indonesia, Mexico, and Poland. No firm timeframe has been set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for awarding the hosting rights for the 2036 Games.

Paris will host the 2024 Summer Games, Los Angeles will host in 2028, and Brisbane in 2032, making the 2036 Games the next available edition for bidding.