With the unveiling of India’s new National Sports Policy, the road to the 2036 Olympics now hinges on bold policy frameworks and transformative infrastructure, writes Nasir Ali.
India’s bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics isn’t just about welcoming the world to our shores; it is a call to transform the country’s sporting landscape. If things turn out our way, it would also be a bold declaration that the nation is ready not just to offer world-class sporting infrastructure but also create and celebrate champions across sports.
The journey to the podium, however, begins long before the ceremonial Olympic torch is lit. It starts with the creation of the right policy and physical infrastructure.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated, India’s Olympic bid is a matter of national pride and global standing. Meanwhile, the re-election of Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani to the International Olympic Committee in July 2024 ensures she will continue to champion the country’s case on international platforms.
And what may be the biggest step yet is the Union Cabinet approving the National Sports Policy (NSP), 2025, on July 1. Replacing the 2001 policy, the revised NSP seeks to position India as a global sporting powerhouse and drive holistic national development by leveraging sports as a unifying, people-driven national movement. Anchored on five pillars of excellence, economic and social development, mass participation, and integration with education, the policy promotes grassroots-to-elite talent development, boosts sports infrastructure, encourages private sector participation, and fosters inclusivity. It aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, and outlines a strategic implementation framework comprising governance, innovation, and performance monitoring.
However, a greater responsibility lies beyond the Olympic ambition. And that is to build a sporting ecosystem that lasts far beyond 2036. India’s Olympic march must, therefore, truly become a mass movement, and not just a moment.
Green Vision and Grassroots Development
India has the opportunity to set a new benchmark in Olympic history by delivering the most sustainable and inclusive games ever. We have seen in past editions how infrastructure can become obsolete. The future demands smarter planning: venues that are eco-conscious, community-integrated, and built to serve for decades.
As India moves towards its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2070, sustainability must be embedded in every brick. From recycled surfaces to energy-efficient stadiums and water-neutral venues, the Olympics should leave behind assets, not abandoned arenas that end up getting leased out for music concerts and social events.
Today, the greatest barrier to Olympic success isn’t talent—it is access. In countless villages and small towns, potential champions train on uneven grounds with makeshift equipment. When these athletes reach national camps or international events, they often face an uphill battle adjusting to elite surfaces.
This gap must be bridged. Athletes need the right surfaces at the right age so that their training evolves in sync with their performance trajectory. Whether it is football, hockey, athletics, or indoor sports, consistent exposure to sport-specific surfaces from school onward can be a game-changer.
Small Fields, Big Impact
There is an important point to be made here. Mega stadiums in metros grab headlines. But it is smaller, multi-sport arenas in district headquarters and community zones that will build depth in Olympic sports. Compact, well-maintained, accessible fields in every district can serve as everyday training centres, not just showpiece venues.
These should be integrated into school campuses, urban housing estates, and public parks that are open for training, community play, and grassroots tournaments. A facility doesn’t need a tournament to be valuable; it needs users. For instance, a child shouldn’t have to travel 100 km to find a football field. At most, the facility should be a short bus ride away.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a critical role to play. CSR programs in sports infrastructure can seed hundreds of community facilities, not just in metros, but in aspirational districts where sport is often the only escape route. From funding athletic tracks in government schools to providing sports flooring in tribal belts, companies can directly invest in future champions.
With the right policies and partnerships, sports CSR can become a national force multiplier, aligning corporate impact with Olympic outcomes.
A Manufacturing Movement:Make in India
India must also reduce its reliance on imports and develop world-class sports materials at home. Given the government’s emphasis on Make in India and our low manufacturing costs, it is very much possible for us to emerge as a leading maker of polyurethane (PU) athletic tracks to artificial turf, from interlocking tiles to maintenance machinery. Ultimately, the future lies in local innovation, quality control, and price accessibility.
Besides, ‘Make in India’ is not just a slogan, it is a strategy. Manufacturing sport-grade materials domestically will allow deeper penetration of infrastructure, faster project delivery, and greater affordability, especially for government-funded projects.
Programmes like Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Fit India, and the National Sports Development Fund are already creating momentum. India has hosted international events with distinction, from the 2023 G20 presidency to the Hockey World Cup.
Our sports manufacturing hubs in Jalandhar and Meerut already serve over 200 countries. World-class academies, both public and private, are nurturing medal hopefuls. But given our Olympic aspirations, this momentum needs direction, consistency, and scale to become world-class.
Towards 100 Olympic Medals
As of 2024, India has won a total of 41 Olympic medals. To reach 100 medals, the foundation must be deeper and not just broader. It is time to build not just athletes, but an ecosystem where every child has the chance to dream, train, and compete with dignity, discipline, and professional-grade support.
Let the Olympic bid be the spark, not the spotlight. It must become a catalyst for grassroots transformation. Let it result in a movement where every school becomes a training ground, every community has a playing field, and every child has a fair shot at the podium. Because the journey to the Olympics, from dusty fields in our small towns and villages to international glory, is far more powerful than just the act of hosting the games.
So, let’s do it boldly, sustainably and together.
About the author:
Nasir Ali, Founder & CEO of Gallant Sports. He is a leading voice in India’s sports infrastructure sector and a strong proponent of grassroots sporting development.
Building Champions: For a Robust Sports Infrastructure
Olympic Ambition, National Mission
Hosting the 2036 Olympics is more than a global event—it’s a catalyst to transform India into a sporting powerhouse and elevate its global stature.
Grassroots to Glory
Uneven fields and makeshift gear limit talent. Accessible, sport-specific infrastructure from school level is essential to nurture future champions.
Small Fields, Big Impact
District-level multi-sport arenas integrated into schools, parks, and housing estates can democratise access and deepen the talent pool.
Make in India for Sports
Domestic manufacturing of tracks, turf, and training gear can reduce costs, speed up delivery, and ensure quality—fueling infrastructure scale-up.
Sustainable Legacy, Not White Elephants
Eco-conscious, community-integrated venues must outlast the Games—serving generations and avoiding the fate of underutilised mega-stadiums.
Five Pillars for Sporting Infrastructure Success
Policy First, Execution Fast
Implement the National Sports Policy, 2025 with clear timelines, performance metrics, and inter-ministerial coordination to ensure grassroots-to-elite alignment.
Decentralise Infrastructure Development
Prioritise compact, multi-sport arenas in district HQs, school campuses, and urban housing estates—bringing facilities closer to communities and reducing access gaps.
Mobilise CSR and Private Capital
Incentivise corporate investment in sports infrastructure through CSR, PPPs, and tax benefits—especially in aspirational districts and underserved regions.
Manufacture at Scale, Locally
Boost domestic production of sport-grade materials—PU tracks, turf, tiles, and training gear—under the Make in India initiative to ensure affordability and speed.
Build Green, Build for Generations
Design sustainable, modular venues with long-term community use in mind—energy-efficient, water-neutral, and adaptable for multiple sports and events.
Game-Changer: How the National Sports Policy, 2025, Can Revitalise India
From Talent to Podium
A unified pipeline from grassroots to elite sport ensures early talent identification, world-class coaching, and holistic athlete support—raising India’s medal potential.
Sports as an Economic Engine
By promoting sports tourism, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship, the policy positions sports as a driver of jobs, innovation, and investment.
Inclusive by Design
Focused outreach to women, tribal communities, and persons with disabilities makes sports a tool for empowerment and social equity.
Every Community, Every Campus
Mass participation campaigns, fitness indices, and universal access to play spaces aim to embed sports into daily life—from schools to workplaces.
Smart, Strategic, Scalable
Backed by tech, key performance indicators, and a whole-of-government approach, the policy ensures accountability, innovation, and alignment across ministries and states.