Sunday 01 / November / 2026
New Delhi: India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games could strengthen its international standing, showcase its sporting progress and reinforce its role as a leading voice of the Global South, despite challenges posed by limited Olympic success and competition from rival bidders.
The country has made steady progress in sports, supported by improvements in infrastructure, government initiatives such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India, and notable performances at international competitions, including the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Hosting the Olympics would provide India with an opportunity to build on this progress while demonstrating its capacity to organise a major international sporting event.
Sports mega-events have increasingly become instruments for countries, particularly in the Global South, to enhance their international influence and promote economic and social development. Research suggests that such events can create opportunities for sustainable human development, policy dialogue and social change by bringing together governments, civil society organisations, international sports governing bodies and private-sector sponsors.
India's growing diplomatic influence could further strengthen its Olympic ambitions. Through vaccine diplomacy, advocacy for climate equity and consensus-building during its G20 Presidency, the country has sought to advance the interests of developing nations and establish itself as a prominent voice of the Global South.
Hosting the Olympics would allow India to demonstrate how a developing economy can organise an event of global significance while promoting inclusive growth, sustainability and international cooperation. It could also provide a model for other emerging economies seeking to combine sporting ambitions with broader development objectives.
The experiences of Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing demonstrate how the Olympic Games can help host countries showcase their economic progress and strengthen their international profile. India's proposed 2036 bid could similarly mark a significant milestone in its emergence as a major global player.
Preparations for the Games could also complement investments in high-speed rail networks, airport expansion, sustainable urban transport and modern sports facilities. Such infrastructure development could improve India's capacity to host international events while delivering long-term benefits to the economy and the public.
Beyond the sporting arena, the bid offers India an opportunity to highlight the growing role of developing countries in shaping the international order. By bringing together sports diplomacy, sustainable economic development and the priorities of the Global South, India could use the proposed Games to reinforce its global standing and demonstrate the broader value of hosting a major sporting event.
