Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, December 5, said he was confident Ahmedabad would secure the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics, days after the city was officially awarded the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the Sansad Khel Mahotsav in Ahmedabad, Shah told the audience that the city should prepare itself for an even bigger global stage in the coming years.
“You recently won a Commonwealth Games bid. But people of Ahmedabad, be prepared as the city will also welcome the Olympics in 2036,” Shah said to loud applause from the gathering.
The event was held at the newly constructed Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura, which falls under Shah’s Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Shah, who began a three-day visit to Gujarat on Friday, said Ahmedabad will host nearly a dozen major national and international sports competitions by 2036.
He explained that the aim is to build a stable sports culture and create a world-class infrastructure that can support major events such as the Olympics.
Highlighting the extent of sports development taking place in the city, he noted that the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex was built at a cost of Rs 800 crore.
He added that other major facilities, including the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave at Motera, are also progressing rapidly and further pushing Ahmedabad’s capabilities.
Shah appealed to the athletes of Gujarat and urged them to ensure that the state becomes the highest medal winning region in the country at the time of the Olympics.
He also expressed confidence in India’s position on the global stage and said, “I am sure that when the Olympics are held here, India will be among the top five countries in the medal standings.
Shah attributed India’s recent rise in international sports to increased central government funding.
He said the sports budget has grown significantly, from Rs 800 crore in 2014 to Rs 4,000 crore in 2025, which has allowed for improved training, facilities and support systems for athletes.
Later that day, the Union Minister inaugurated the Ahmedabad Shopping Festival organized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation at Sindhu Bhavan Road and continued his engagements in the city.
– The end
Published on:
December 5, 2025
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