Internet Desk: Indian Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Tuesday hinted that the country will not host any big tournaments in the near future. Rathore’s statement comes in the wake of a scheduled visit by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach later this month. It means India will not bid for the 2032 summer Olympics.
“The bottom line for doing anything, taking such decisions (on hosting ticket events), the bottom line needs to be what good is that tournament going to be for our country? Is it going to be beneficial for us? And anything that comes our way, where we have to even consider hosting a big tournament, these are the essentials that we would answer. Right now we don’t foresee us hosting big tournaments in the immediate future,” Rathore said in a media briefing in the capital on Tuesday.
He further said, “I think what is important is that instead of mammoth stadiums, I would rather have small practical playfields available to a larger section of the public.”
Rathore’s comments fall in line with IOC President Thomas Bach’s scheduled visit to India in the latter part of April.
The Indian Olympic Association were hopeful that India will bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics, but after Rathore’s statement today, the chances looks bleak. Earlier IOA President Narinder Batra told media that they will convey their willingness to host the mega event to IOC President when he comes to India. But with today’s statement from the Sports Minister, the chances of bidding for the Games looks gloom.
If IOA does indeed decide to bid for the 2032 Olympic games, they’ll have to submit an official bid before the results are unveiled in 2025.