Picture Credit: Twitter
India’s Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur on Wednesday (28 December) claimed that the country is ready to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympics. Anurag Thakur said that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will pitch the idea at the International Olympic Committee’s session in Mumbai next year. Meanwhile, the Government of India will back IOA’s bid. Thakur also revealed the potential city that will host the Olympics if India wins the bid. The Sports Minister said that Ahmedabad, with its world-class sporting infrastructure, can host the Games.
"Yes, India is ready to positively bid for it. There is no reason for us to say 'No'. If India is putting in so much effort to promote sports, I can assure you that we will not only host the Olympics, but we will also host it in a big way. This is the right time to host the Games,” Thakur has said to TOI. “If India is making news in every sector from manufacturing to services, then why not in the field of sports? India is looking very seriously at bidding for the 2036 Olympics."
“Gujarat has several times expressed interest in hosting the Olympics. They have the infrastructure — from hotels, hostels, airports and sports complexes. They are serious about the bid. It’s also part of the state government’s manifesto to host the Olympics in Gujarat,” Thakur said about the host state.
Now, a journalist has come up with a series of pictures showing the shambolic state of sporting complexes across the country. He shared videos and pictures showing how India’s top stadiums like the JLN Stadium in New Delhi and the IIT Gandhinagar Stadium in Gujarat (which also hosted the National Games 2022) don’t even have basic amenities.
“Delhi's JLN stadium hasn't hosted a national level meet in four years. IIT Gandhinagar (Atheltics venue for national games 22) doesn't have a warm-up track and mattresses were placed at the makeshift jumping pits cause the walls were too close. Yes, we will host Olympics,” tweeted the journalist.
Meanwhile, several users criticized the journalist for being a pessimist. " We can build all this for 36 which is 14 years away. Don’t be a pessimist. Move on!! Maybe the opportunity will wake us up into putting things in order," commented one user. " Above all, we can build from 0 sir… i think we have enough time and local manpower. Don't be such a pessimist," wrote another.
