Albania PM Modi sets sports agenda as Australia backs India’s bid for 2036 Olympics
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese unveiled a blueprint for India-Australia sports cooperation at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, with Canberra formally backing India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
The announcement came during an event celebrating India-Australia sporting ties at the MCG, where the two leaders were joined by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Among the sporting legends in attendance were Australian cricket greats Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar.
Addressing the rally, Modi said India is gearing up to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and is aiming to host the Olympics in 2036, with sports infrastructure to be developed on a massive scale in the coming years.
#WATCH | Melbourne, Australia | Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) says, “India is ready to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. We are also seeking to host the Olympics in India in 2036. Brisbane will host the Olympics in 2032. Sports pic.twitter.com/FdFSa4tm0Y— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026
“India is ready to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. We are also trying to host the Olympics in India in 2036. Brisbane will host the Olympics in 2032. Sports infrastructure will be developed on a mega scale to host these global events,” Modi said.
Moments later, the Albanians announced Australia’s support for India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics, giving a major boost to Delhi’s campaign to bring the Summer Games to the country for the first time.
The two Prime Ministers also jointly unveiled the India-Australia Sports Cooperation Roadmap, which aims to deepen cooperation in sports training and capacity building, sports science and technology, and sports industry and investment. The plan also proposes holding an India-Australia youth sports festival as part of efforts to boost sports exchanges between the two countries.
Modi also welcomed the decision to hold the opening match Australian Big Bash League 2026-27 season in Chennai later this year.
“I am delighted that the Big Bash League match will be held in Chennai, India. For any sports league, hosting the event in India guarantees a wide reach and viewership,” he said.
Talking about the growing sports relationship between the two countries, Modi said that sports has become an important pillar of the India-Australia partnership and has the power to bring people together.
“There are two emotions in the heart for every Indian who comes to the MCG. One is the excitement of the India-Australia cricket match and the other is the realization that in both our countries cricket is not just a sport, it is a shared passion,” Modi said.
“But today there is no pressure to finish last. Today is about the joy of sport, the warmth of our friendship and the energy of future champions.”
Modi said the plan would diversify the sports partnership between India and Australia and expand cooperation beyond cricket.
“We are also joined by legendary players like Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar. Steve Waugh’s mental toughness and Lisa Sthalekar’s all-round excellence remind us that becoming a champion requires three essential qualities: talent, temperament and tenacity. Sport is a strong pillar of the India-Australia relationship. It gives me great pleasure to launch the India-Australia Ministerial Cooperation Roadmap today with Tourism Minister Colla initiative. not just in cricket but across a range of sports,” Modi said.
He also congratulated Australia to win the Women’s Cricket World Cup and said the coming years would provide new opportunities for sports cooperation as India and Australia prepare to host major multi-sport events.
Recalling his meetings with Albanes, Modi said cricket was often a common topic between the two leaders. Referring to their joint visit to the Ahmedabad Stadium, he said that the participation at the MCG once again reflects the shared sporting spirit of the two nations.
The two leaders later interacted with young sportspersons who participated in exhibition matches of kabaddi, Australian rules football and cricket. Modi said watching the children compete made it feel like it was “not just an exhibition match” but an “audition for future champions”, adding that their confidence and enthusiasm reflected the bright future of sports in both countries.
The visit highlighted the growing role of sports, cultural exchanges and people-to-people relations as pillars of India-Australia’s comprehensive strategic partnership. Australia’s support for India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, along with the launch of the India-Australia Sports Cooperation Plan, marked another step in expanding cooperation between the two countries through sports.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
10 Jul 2026 09:01 IST