After a successful Olympics campaign in Tokyo, India are desperate to host the showpiece event. Hence Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra revealed on Saturday that he is in talks with the International Olympic Committee as India is looking to launch a bid to host the 2036 summer games. Batra feels that Ahmedabad’s renovated Motera stadium will be the best venue for the opening ceremony of the Summer Games.
The stadium was rebuilt and it became the world’s largest cricket stadium. It was then renamed as the ‘Narendra Modi Stadium’ by the Gujarat Cricket Association.
“If someone asks me about the venue for the opening ceremony at present, then it is definitely going to be the Motera stadium,” Batra told reporters regarding the venue for the opening ceremony.
“There is no stadium better suited to host the opening ceremony of the Olympics (in India). I can’t say what will happen by 2036…. (but) I will be proposing Ahmedabad as the venue for the opening ceremony,” the IOA chief added at an event organised at the TransStadia, Gujarat based sports infrastructure company.
“When you say opening ceremony, it means that athletics will also be played (at the same venue). And athletics is the biggest event (at the Olympics),” he said.
The Summer Games can potentially be held in three or four cities across India. IOA is making sure that they keep no stone unturned in their attempts to convince the IOC as India gear up a bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Batra reveals that considering the talks that they have had, India’s chances of hosting the Summer Games are bright.
Batra also added how a proper presentation of India’s bid will be forwarded to the International Olympic Committee and will be headed by the new chief of IOA, all set to be elected in December this year.
However, he also added that India will be among six of seven contenders interested to host the 2036 Olympics.
“India has come on the world radar and is heading towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world. By 2036, it is going to be the second or third-largest economy,” he said.
