A coincidence of the calendar? Not likely. In the space of a few handfuls of hours, India has repeated twice, via very official channels, its decision to apply for the Summer Games in 2036. To try its luck and, above all, to win the prize.
On a visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took advantage of a meeting with the Indian diaspora at the Nassau Coliseum in New York (pictured above) to reprise a refrain sung nearly a year earlier, at the 141st IOC session in Mumbai.
«Just a few days ago, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games endedhe recalled. Very soon, you will witness the Olympics in India too. We are making every effort to host the 2036 Olympics ».
So far, nothing new. This is not Narendra Modi's first public statement about his country's Olympic ambition. After expressing it to the top decision-makers, the IOC members, last October in Mumbai, he added another layer last month, during his address to the nation on the occasion of the 78th edition of Independence Day.
« India dreams of hosting the 2036 Olympics. We are preparing for it " he said from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi, suggesting that the successful hosting of the last G20 had demonstrated the country's ability to host large-scale events.
But the Prime Minister had never publicly addressed the issue of the Olympic and Paralympic Games outside the country. He chose New York and the United States, the host nation of the next edition. Probably not by chance.
Can India win? Twelve years before the event, the question is still premature. Before considering the issue, the IOC must find a new president next March. His identity will most certainly have an influence on the choice by the future host commission of the bid(s) to keep for the continuation of the dialogue.
But the Indians know that bidding for the Games must be accompanied by a vast plan to detect and prepare the Olympic sports elite. Paris 2024 has once again demonstrated this in a striking way: the success of the event depends on the performances of the host country's athletes.
The only problem, but a big one: India remains a no-brainer in the medal rankings, despite its dizzying population figures. At the 2024 Paris Games, the Indian delegation won only six medals, without a single title. With one silver and five bronze medals, it slipped to 71st place in the table, between Lithuania and Moldova.
Disappointing. But the Indian authorities intend to make up for lost time. The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Mansukh Mandaviya, explained at a conference at the end of last week: the machine is on its way.
A national programme has already been launched. Its name: Khelo India. It aims to train the champions of tomorrow, the Olympic medallists that India sorely lacks today. The stated objective: to achieve a first breakthrough at the Games in 2036, by taking advantage of home advantage, then to join the top 5 nations in 2047. The road seems long.
The Indian minister detailed: “ We have developed a project called KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification). It has helped us identify over 100.000 talented young athletes. From this pool, we select the most promising ones. They are given special assistance under the Targeted Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). If we win the 2036 Summer Games, we hope to finish in the top 10 in the medal count."
