Amit Shah reviews India's 2036 Olympics bid and Ahmedabad sports hosting plans
Synopsis
India is chasing three major international sporting events in a single decade — the 2029 Police and Fire Games, the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the 2036 Olympics — all centred on Ahmedabad. Home Minister Amit Shah's review meeting signals the Centre is treating this not as routine sports diplomacy but as a strategic nation-branding exercise with Gujarat at its core.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on 27 August covering India's 2036 Olympics bid and preparations for two other events in Ahmedabad .
India is set to host the 2029 Police and Fire Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad .
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and senior Gujarat Government officials attended the meeting.
The Commonwealth Games Flag was received by an Indian delegation in Glasgow and formally presented to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel by Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi .
A successful 2036 Olympics bid would make India the first South Asian nation to host the Summer Games.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 27 August chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi focused on India's bid for the 2036 Olympic Games and the country's preparations to host two other marquee international events — the 2029 Police and Fire Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games — both slated for Ahmedabad.
What the Meeting Covered
Shah was briefed on the current status of India's official bid for the 2036 Olympics, with Ahmedabad identified as the proposed host city. Officials also presented progress reports on infrastructure and organisational preparations for the 2029 Police and Fire Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya attended alongside senior officials from his ministry and representatives of the Gujarat Government.
What the Government Said
Shah, who posted about the meeting on social media platform X, underscored the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government's intent to position India as a global sporting hub. 'Modi Govt is firmly committed to establishing India as a global sporting destination by hosting international sporting events. Today, chaired a review meeting on India's bid for the 2036 Olympics, as well as preparations for hosting the 2029 Police and Fire Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games, in Ahmedabad,' Shah wrote in his post.
The Commonwealth Games Flag Handover
India's Commonwealth Games hosting rights were formalised following the conclusion of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. An Indian delegation representing Ahmedabad received the Commonwealth Games Flag at the closing ceremony, with the flag handed to Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. On his return, Sanghavi formally presented the flag to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during a state cabinet meeting — a symbolic confirmation of Ahmedabad's status as the next Commonwealth Games host.
Why This Matters
India's simultaneous pursuit of three major international sporting events within a single decade represents an unprecedented logistical and diplomatic undertaking. Notably, the 2036 Olympics bid — if successful — would make India only the second Asian country after Japan to host the Summer Games twice, and the first to do so in South Asia. The clustering of events in Ahmedabad signals a strategic push to develop Gujarat's capital as a world-class sports infrastructure hub. This comes amid a broader national drive that has seen India successfully host the 2023 Cricket World Cup and bid aggressively for global sporting mandates across disciplines.
What Happens Next
India's 2036 Olympics bid remains under evaluation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is expected to shortlist candidate cities in the coming years. In the interim, preparations for the 2029 Police and Fire Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad are expected to accelerate, with infrastructure timelines and budgetary allocations likely to be formalised in subsequent government reviews.
Point of View
However, remains the most consequential and the most uncertain; the IOC's future-host process is competitive and opaque, and India's readiness will be judged on stadium capacity, anti-doping infrastructure, and athlete welfare standards — not political intent. The Commonwealth Games flag handover is a tangible milestone, but the harder question is whether Ahmedabad's infrastructure pipeline can deliver on the scale the 2036 Games would demand, especially given the IOC's post-Tokyo insistence on cost discipline and sustainability commitments.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India's 2036 Olympics bid?
India is formally pursuing the right to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games , with Ahmedabad identified as the proposed host city. The bid is under evaluation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will shortlist candidate cities in the coming years.
Which events is Ahmedabad set to host before the 2036 Olympics?
Ahmedabad is scheduled to host the 2029 Police and Fire Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games , both of which are being used to build sporting infrastructure and organisational capacity ahead of the potential 2036 Olympics.
Why did Amit Shah chair this meeting?
As Home Minister, Amit Shah chaired the review to assess progress on India's Olympic bid and preparations for the 2029 and 2030 events in Ahmedabad, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to making India a global sporting destination.
How did India secure the 2030 Commonwealth Games hosting rights?
Following the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland , an Indian delegation received the Commonwealth Games Flag on behalf of Ahmedabad. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi accepted the flag and later presented it to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at a Gujarat cabinet meeting.
What would a successful 2036 Olympics bid mean for India?
A successful bid would make India the first South Asian country to host the Summer Olympics, a historic milestone. It would also position Ahmedabad as one of the world's premier sporting cities and represent the largest international sporting event ever staged on Indian soil.
