India’s 2036 Olympics bid highlights its religious diversity and historic silk and spice trade routes
India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games emphasizes its deep-rooted cultural and religious diversity, its dedication to promoting peace globally, and its historical role along the ancient silk and spice routes, while underscoring India’s growing global influence, according to The Indian Express.
Recently, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally conveyed its “intent to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Bharat (India)” in a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), marking a significant milestone in India’s campaign. The letter, prepared with government backing, places India in the race alongside Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Drawing on the country’s “rich cultural diversity, shaped over thousands of years,” the letter highlights India’s mosaic of religions—Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism—that form the backbone of its heritage. The bid emphasizes the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” a Sanskrit phrase meaning “the world is one family,” and presents a timely message of unity, friendship, and shared progress to the world community.
India’s “strategic location along the historic Silk and Spice Routes” illustrates its legacy as a cultural hub where influences from Persia, China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe converged. This heritage, according to the IOA, reflects the values of the Olympic Movement itself. With India as the only major economy that has yet to host the Games, its bid brings forward an opportunity for unique social and sporting benefits in the region.
Positioning the Games as a “key catalyst” for India’s continued rise, the IOA highlights the potential for transformative impacts across South Asia, particularly in SAARC countries. India’s youth population, with over 600 million under the age of 25, would greatly benefit from job creation and business opportunities in sports-related industries like infrastructure, services, and tourism.
India is among several contenders for the 2036 Olympics, with the IOC’s decision expected by 2026 or 2027 after a thorough evaluation process.
