- The Indian dispensation at the Centre led by the hugely popular Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently attempted to pitch the nation as not only aspiring in terms of achieving parity with the developed countries via economic growth but also positioning the nation to undertake some of the hitherto considered way out of the reach global events as well. Due credit must be accorded to the Prime Minister for relentlessly pursuing diplomatic efforts to emphatically position the country as a favorable destination for investments as well as carving out a palpable heft around the world. The ever-altering geopolitical and geostrategic scenario has rendered the Indian effort much-needed traction helping us to be counted among the voices to be heard.
PC: kreedon
- To boost those efforts, India is touted to be counted among the three largest economies in the next few years. We are already in the top five bracket. India has successfully carried the G20 presidency receiving widespread appreciation from around the world. As reported recently, the Indian government is pitching seriously to host the Olympic Games in 2036, no less. As you are aware, the PM’s announcement at the International Olympic Committee session in Mumbai that India will leave no stone unturned in its bid to host the 2036 Olympics gave substance to yearlong speculation. Unsurprisingly, India is likely will be more than a 6 trillion dollar economy by 2035, and hence, should desire to host the prestigious sporting and infrastructure spectacle.
- The moot point to ponder over here is after spending a humongous amount of precious money on the massively required sporting infrastructure front, will the same be put to good use post-Olympic games? Needless to mention the misgivings are equally legitimate as our cities are near-dumps, overpopulated, with little infrastructure maintenance, power, and water woes, often littered with construction debris and choked by inefficient waste management. Further, can Ahmedabad as the much-speculated frontrunner to get the Olympics be ready in 13 years? The next question is can we design the Games infrastructure such that the host city and country benefit economically? No. Our early experience corroborates emphatically.
PC: newsroompost
- Allocations to sports infrastructure will have to rise manifold over the next few years for India to be in the reckoning. Cost overruns for Olympic hosts are common, and India is a world-class performer in cost overruns. Games’ host cities are often left with white elephants – Sydney’s Olympic Stadium annually costs $30 million to run, and Beijing’s iconic Bird’s Nets sits empty. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 cost about $13 billion, and the city was hit by the postponement cost Covid entailed. Host cities have often rued bidding. The test is how the event will help the host city in economic terms. If large public funds are to be committed, a conversion plan for future use is the starting point. The prestige then will endure. Are we prepared for the grind and eventual outcome?
