Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed strong optimism that Ahmedabad is on track to become the “sports capital” of India, with serious groundwork already being laid to potentially host the Olympic Games in 2036.
He was inaugurating the newly built Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. Shah emphasised the city’s fast-paced development in sports infrastructure. He highlighted ongoing projects that aim to position Ahmedabad among the top destinations globally for hosting major international sporting events.
Shah pointed to the presence of the world’s largest cricket stadium—the Narendra Modi Stadium—and the ongoing construction of the Sardar Patel Sports Complex, alongside the newly launched Veer Savarkar facility. Together, these facilities are expected to elevate Ahmedabad’s stature in the global sports arena.
He also shared that Ahmedabad is already slated to host 13 major international sports events by 2036. These include the 2029 World Police & Fire Games, which have been officially awarded to the city, and a bid has been submitted to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. “We are preparing extensively to bring the Olympics to Ahmedabad in 2036,” Shah stated.
While what Shah said is futuristic and holds promise, the ground reality in Gujarat is different over the years, especially when it comes to physical education teachers.
Media reports have time and again highlighted significant shortfall of physical education teachers, especially in primary and rural schools. The teachers are hired on contractual basis and they have not been hired for almost 15 years.
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi told Vibes of India that sports and sports persons get encouraged in Gujarat. He, however, pointed out to the shortfall of physical education teachers. On one hand the BJP government does not recruit physical education/training teachers and on the other hand, it talks big, he said.
As regards the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Shah described it as India’s largest and most advanced, Shah noted that the facility spans 1.19 lakh square metres and is equipped with modern amenities such as Training and competitive sports zones, an Olympic-standard swimming pool, a multi-purpose indoor sports arena, a sports science and nutrition laboratory, medical facilities, a specialized theatre for athletes to review and analyze competitions.
Shah shared that recent visits from international sports officials drew high praise, with many calling it among the most complete and technologically advanced facilities globally.
Connecting the growth of sports to the nation’s broader development goals, Shah reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India the top global power by 2047, when the country marks a century of independence. He stressed that sports will play a crucial role in achieving that ambition.
“India, with its youthful population, has a rich legacy in sports and must reclaim its leadership in this domain,” he said.
Shah highlighted that the Union Government has significantly increased its financial commitment to sports, with the national sports budget rising from Rs. 1,643 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 5,300 crore today. He added that a revamped sports policy will not only focus on winning medals but will also integrate sports into education, health, and social progress.
Naming the new complex after freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, Shah said the venue will inspire athletes to bring glory to the nation and help realize the dream of hosting the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad.
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