India Should Not Even Think About Hosting Olympics, Rather Spend on Olympians

The Paris Olympics recently concluded, with India securing six medals—one silver and five bronze—amidst an overwhelming wave of support from the nation. As the Indian cricket team experiences a challenging phase, these Olympic achievements were a much-needed source of national pride. However, amidst the celebration, whispers are growing louder about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of bringing the Olympics to India in 2036. While this ambition is grand, the question arises: Should India really aspire to host the Olympics, or should it focus on nurturing its athletes to win more medals?

Costs and Overruns: The Olympic Financial Burden

Hosting the Olympics is a monumental task, both logistically and financially. The Paris Olympics, considered relatively “cost-friendly,” had an initial estimate of just over $8 billion. However, according to the Oxford Olympics Study 2024, the actual cost is projected to be around $8.7 billion, with a cost overrun of 115%. This is a common trend in Olympic history, where the last three Summer Games cost a combined $51 billion, exceeding their budgets by 185%.

Infrastructure costs, including roads, railways, airports, and hotels, often surpass the expenses of the Games themselves. These are sometimes not even included in the overall Olympics cost estimates. For instance, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics has already revised its forecast from $5.3 billion to $6.8 billion, and cost overruns remain a certainty.

‘India 2036’: Where Will the Money Come From?

If India were to win the bid for the 2036 Olympics, the immediate question is: Where will the funding come from? There are three primary ways to finance the Games: public funds, private investments, and public-private partnerships (PPP).

1. Public Funding: The last major international event hosted by India, the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, cost around ₹1,813.42 crore, funded by the public exchequer. However, the event left a bitter taste due to allegations of mismanagement and corruption. Hosting the Olympics would be exponentially more expensive, with initial estimates suggesting costs over ₹6,500 crore. This raises concerns about whether India should take such a financial plunge, especially when the government is already bearing significant costs, such as ₹11.80 lakh crore over five years for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
2. Private Funding: The Paris 2024 Olympics was 96% funded by the private sector, covering costs through ticket sales, sponsorships, and other revenue streams. However, hidden costs, such as the construction of new infrastructure, can be enormous, and the return on investment may be minimal. Economist Andrew Zimbalist, in his book Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup, argues that financial gains from the Games are often intangible and realized over a long period.
3. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): India has experience with PPP projects, such as the Delhi Metro and the Mumbai Metro, which have been relatively successful. Hosting the Olympics could benefit from this model, with infrastructure development creating a lasting legacy for the host city. However, the complexity of such projects and the risk of cost overruns could outweigh the benefits.

Which City Will Host—Ahmedabad vs. Delhi?

If India were to host the Olympics, the likely candidates for the host city are Ahmedabad and Delhi. Prime Minister Modi has hinted at Ahmedabad as the prospective host, with significant investments being made in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave and other infrastructure projects. On the other hand, Delhi already has much of the necessary infrastructure from hosting the 1982 Asian Games and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, potentially reducing operational costs.

Shun Olympic Hosting Aspirations: Focus on Olympians

Rather than focusing on hosting the Olympics, India should prioritize investing in its athletes. The nation should aim to break into the top 10 in the Olympic medal tally by expanding beyond its traditional strongholds of hockey, shooting, wrestling, badminton, boxing, and weightlifting. With over 30 sports featured in the Olympics, India is missing out on numerous medal opportunities. Identifying and investing in sports like swimming, aquatics, fencing, and gymnastics could significantly boost India’s medal count.

To achieve this, India needs to revitalize its sports ecosystem, nurturing athletes from the grassroots level and supporting them throughout their development. Winning Olympic medals should be the ultimate goal, rather than the costly and resource-intensive aspiration of hosting the Games.

Conclusion

Hosting the Olympics is a prestigious but financially daunting task that may not be in India’s best interest at this time. Instead, India should focus on creating a robust sports infrastructure, nurturing its athletes, and striving for excellence on the global stage. The dream should be to see Indian athletes standing atop the podium, not just to host the Games but to dominate them. By investing in its Olympians, India can achieve lasting pride and success that hosting the Olympics alone cannot provide.