Modi Announces Nationwide Talent Hunt for 2036 Olympics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that India is a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympic Games and revealed plans for a nationwide talent hunt to identify young athletes for sports where the country has limited participation. Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort during India's 80th Independence Day celebrations, Modi outlined an ambitious vision to expand the nation's Olympic presence.

Modi stated that while India's performance in international sports is improving, the country currently does not qualify for or compete in at least two-thirds of the approximately 350 events across 40 Olympic disciplines. He set a target for India to participate in at least three-fourths of all events by the 2036 Games. To achieve this, the government will launch a nationwide talent identification campaign focused on children aged 5 to 15. The initiative aims to discover promising prospects in every corner of the country and provide them with specialized training to become world-class athletes.

The Prime Minister highlighted the success of the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme, established in 2014, and other programs like the Khelo India Games. He noted that India...