The Sports Ministry revealed its plan to dismantle Nehru Stadium to construct a Sports city spread over 102 acres. India is aiming to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics, and a massive sports infrastructure development will increase the chances of acquiring the rights.
New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to be deconstructed
- Many believe it is just a rumour, but it is indeed true. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is situated in New Delhi, is to be dismantled soon. India aims to construct a sporting ecosystem to push for hosting rights for the Commonwealth Games 2030 and the Olympics 2036. Officials have said that they are currently observing countries that have developed sporting ecosystems. The date of dismantling has not been finalized yet and will only begin after formulating the roadmap.
- The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was constructed in 1982 for the Asian Games and later redeveloped for the Commonwealth Games. It is one of the significant sites to host major sporting events, with a capacity of 60,000 seats. It also hosts International Music Concerts and National Festivals, and Parades. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the largest stadium in India, with a construction cost of ₹961 crores. It might surprise you, but the funding for the Olympics mostly comes from the host country’s tax money.
- As per the previous data, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics cost around $15 billion, paid by the Japanese government, and the Rio 2016 Olympics $20 billion; the overspending by the Brazilian government was challenged by the citizens of the countries. The latest Olympics hosted in Paris (2024) has not been completely estimated, but so far the cost ranges around $9 billion.
- Is India capable of hosting the Olympics? Yes, it is capable. India is the 4th largest economy in the world and has hosted international events like the 2010 Commonwealth Games (Delhi), 2023 Cricket World Cup, Asian Games (1982), and G20 Summit (2023). India spent around $11 billion on the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and hosting the Olympics costs between $10 billion to $20 billion.
- In 2023, the IOC president visited India to discuss the plans, and the country may host the Olympics in 2036, if authorities in India focus on constructing better infrastructure that it will empower a generation of athletes, boost tourism, and leave behind better sports facilities for Indian athletes.
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