A few days ago, I saw a post on X about India’s bid to host the Olympics. But the post itself was not what caught my attention. The comments section was the real shocker. Some called India the “filthiest country”, others used similar insults. I am familiar with the hostility towards India on X, including its many bots, but those comments still made me think about how our country is perceived.
India would not be the first country to face negative perceptions. China also struggled with its image around two decades ago, although the circumstances were different. In my view, Beijing 2008 became a turning point in how the world saw China. It was as though a country that had been working hard without receiving enough recognition finally had the world’s attention. China has come a long way since then.
For India, hosting the Olympics could be a similar moment. That is why I believe we should pursue the bid aggressively.
I see a possible parallel between India in 2036 and China in 2008. China opened a high-speed rail line connecting Beijing and Tianjin shortly before the Olympics, and its grand opening ceremony remains memorable. Similarly, Ahmedabad could have India’s first high-speed rail corridor serving it by then. Hosting the Games could give us an opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities and announce to the world that India has arrived as a major global power.
Of course, hosting the Olympics comes with enormous challenges, from physical infrastructure to management. This is why hosting the Commonwealth Games before the Olympics makes sense. It gives us an opportunity to prepare. And that is exactly what Ahmedabad is doing in 2030.
Those who oppose hosting also raise valid concerns. Financial constraints matter, and the experience of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games cannot be ignored. But financial returns alone do not capture every potential benefit. Changes in a country’s image and the soft power that can come from successfully hosting the Olympics also deserve consideration. Any case for hosting must explain how lasting public and reputational benefits justify the cost.
For India, the ambition must therefore extend beyond a spectacular opening ceremony. Better transport, cleaner public spaces, reliable services and a welcoming visitor experience must become everyday realities. The Olympics could be our shankhnaad to the world, but the transformation it announces must last.
Bal Kishan Kaswan is a student of Indian Institute of Technology, Goa. Views are personal.
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