ICC chairman Jay Shah used the platform of the Girl Child Half Marathon in Surat to press for a bolder sporting agenda in India, saying the country should build on its success in securing the 2030 Commonwealth Games and aim to host the 2036 Olympics. Shah flagged off the event and told participants and officials that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had delivered the Commonwealth Games to India, but the nation should not stop there.
India 2036 Olympics bid aims to build momentum
Speaking in Gujarati-majority Surat, Shah translated national sporting ambition into measurable goals. He recalled India’s eight medals at the 2024 Olympics and said that number will not suffice by 2036. “We won eight medals in 2024, but eight will not be enough in 2036,” he said. Shah set an ambitious target of 100 medals across multi-sport events in coming cycles and expressed confidence that at least ten of those would come from Gujarat.
The comments come as the Gujarat government accelerates preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which Ahmedabad will host. Authorities are expanding sports infrastructure, including construction of the Sardar Patel Sports Complex, a development that will incorporate the Narendra Modi Stadium. New stadia are also planned for Gandhinagar and Vadodara as officials move to upgrade facilities ahead of the international event.
Shah’s remarks also highlighted recent cricketing achievements. He referenced the heartbreak of 2023, when India won hearts but not the trophy in the ODI World Cup, and contrasted it with victories in 2024. “In 2024 we won both the hearts and the cup,” he said, citing the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final and the Champions Trophy wins as evidence of India’s rising sporting stature.
The proposal to pursue the 2036 Olympic Games reflects a wider ambition to raise India’s profile on the global stage and to leverage major events to accelerate domestic sporting development. Gujarat has only about three years to prepare for the Commonwealth Games, and Shah’s call for an Olympic bid places further urgency on infrastructure upgrades and grassroots programmes.
Local officials have noted that the state must tackle lingering concerns about facilities at ground level. Shah’s public support and high-profile presence at the Surat half marathon came amid reports of shortcomings in sports infrastructure at grassroots levels. The half marathon attracted a large number of participants and was attended by Surat City Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot, underscoring civic backing for the event.
One notable practical implication of an Olympic bid would be the potential inclusion of cricket in the Games. Cricket is slated to return to the 2028 Olympics, and if India were to host in 2036, Narendra Modi Stadium could be a candidate venue for Olympic cricket matches, subject to International Olympic Committee approval and scheduling considerations.
Shah’s message was both aspirational and tactical. By setting concrete medal targets and promising regional contributions from Gujarat, he framed the bid as a national project that requires both elite success and mass participation. With the 2030 Commonwealth Games now secured for India, the coming years will test whether officials can convert ambition into delivery on infrastructure, athlete development and international campaigning required for an Olympic host bid.
Key Takeaways:
- ICC chairman Jay Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the 2030 Commonwealth Games to India and urged a bid for the India 2036 Olympics.
- Shah flagged off the Girl Child Half Marathon in Surat and set a target of 100 medals for India, with at least 10 from Gujarat.
- Gujarat plans major sports infrastructure upgrades including the Sardar Patel Sports Complex and potential use of Narendra Modi Stadium for Olympic cricket.
