India's Ambition to Host the 2036 Olympic Games
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games. This follows the decision to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the expansion of the Khelo India program, intended to enhance athlete participation and exposure.
Budget Allocations and Initiatives
- The Khelo India initiative received a record ₹1,000 crore allocation in the 2025-26 Union Budget, up from ₹800 crore the previous year.
- The total outlay for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is ₹3,794.30 crore.
- There are currently 1,045 Khelo India Centres (KICs) across the country.
- Support is provided for 2,845 athletes, including coaching, equipment, medical care, and stipends.
Challenges in Sports Administration
Despite increased funding, there are significant institutional weaknesses:
- The 2025 task force led by Abhinav Bindra identified major governance shortcomings in national sports federations, including:
- Poor accountability and staff shortages.
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- Lack of a trained, professional cadre of sports administrators.
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- Fragmented and outdated training for sports administrators.
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- Programs on sports education inadequately prepare graduates for administrative roles.
- Politicians often lead sports bodies, which may not be practical or beneficial.
Pathways for Athletes and Use of Technology
There is a lack of structured pathways for athletes to transition into governance roles post-retirement, which affects decision-making and inclusivity:
- Absence of targeted skilling, mentoring, and exposure to governance during athletes' careers.
- Limited use of digital tools and data analytics in sports governance.
Regional Disparities and Institutional Learnings
- Funding and performance are uneven across states, with a few regions dominating medal tallies at the Khelo India Youth Games.
- India's experience with the 2010 Commonwealth Games highlighted issues of cost overruns, construction delays, and governance lapses.
Future Outlook and Necessary Reforms
To make India's Olympic dream a reality, the following reforms are essential:
- Professionalized administration and stronger governance frameworks.
- Clear pathways for athletes to transition into administrative roles.
- A decisive shift towards data-driven decision-making.
Without these reforms, India's ambition to host the Olympics risks being based on weak foundations rather than strong institutional capabilities.
