Anurag Thakur: India to Host 2030 CWG & Pursue 2036 Olympics
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Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 11 (NationPress) Anurag Thakur, the former Minister of Sports and current BJP MP, has confidently declared that India is poised to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG) on an extraordinary scale, while also vying for the opportunity to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
Last November, India was officially confirmed as the host for the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030. The nation has put forth a compelling vision for the Games, primarily based in Ahmedabad, which aims to build on the groundwork established by the Glasgow 2026 Games, allowing India to celebrate this centenary event with grandeur.
Discussing India's preparations ahead of this multi-sport spectacle, Thakur remarked to IANS, "The organization of sporting events in India is evolving to be larger and more impressive than ever. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are anticipated to be executed on an exceptionally grand scale, and India is also gearing up to host the 2036 Olympics."
As India intensifies its efforts to secure the 2036 Olympic Games, Thakur expressed optimism, stating, "We hope that India will obtain the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics as well, leading to a succession of significant international sporting events in the country."
In a previous statement, Ashwini Kumar, the Principal Secretary for Ports and Transport in Gujarat, noted that India's preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games are characterized as "meticulous, confident, and supported by a solid team," with expectations to finalize major preparations by the end of 2028 or early 2029.
Reflecting on India's past experience with the CWG in 2010, Thakur highlighted the contrasts between then and now, pointing out that while the 2010 Delhi Games were overshadowed by allegations of widespread corruption under the UPA government, the current administration has fostered transparency and developed world-class infrastructure.
"In the past, the Commonwealth Games held in India during the UPA government were more associated with corruption scandals than with the Games themselves," he remarked.
India had an impressive tally of 101 medals, including 38 gold medals, in the 2010 CWG held in New Delhi, with 30 of those medals coming from shooting. In the 2022 edition, India secured 61 medals, 22 of which were gold, although shooting was not part of the Birmingham edition.