With India on the cusp of bidding for hosting the 2036 Olympics, the Gujarat government and billionaire businessman and chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani, announced investments worth billions of dollars for developing world-class sporting infrastructure in the state.
"Prime Minister Modi ji has announced that India will bid for 2036 Olympics. In preparation for that, Reliance and Reliance Foundation will join forces with several other partners in Gujarat to improve education, sports and skills infrastructure that will nurture the champions of tomorrow in various Olympics sports," Ambani said during his address at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in state capital Gandhinagar.
On the other hand, a Gujarat government official confirmed that six new sports complexes were being developed in Ahmedabad to beef up infrastructure in the state's largest city.
The overall cost of these projects executed by the state government is being pegged at $725 million.
"To realise Prime Minister Modi's dream of hosting the Olympics in the country, we have drawn a master plan to develop the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Motera and surrounding areas spread across 350 acres. As per the plan submitted by a design firm selected earlier through an open bid, six sports complexes will be constructed in an area of 350 acres," the state government said.
Previously, Modi spoke about India's desire to host the 2036 Olympics during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai last year.
"India is very excited to organise an Olympics. India will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organise the 2036 Olympics. It's a dream of 140 crore Indians. With the support of IOC, we would want to fulfill this dream," Modi said at the time.
Ahmedabad is tipped to be the host city of the 2036 Olympics.