IOA Director Calls for Strategic Olympic Planning Beyond 2036 Games
As Gujarat positions itself to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and sets its sights on the prestigious Olympic Games in 2036, a senior sports official has emphasized the need to leverage these mega sporting events for comprehensive, long-term development. The director of the Indian Olympics Academy (IOA) articulated this vision during a significant international conference in Ahmedabad, urging stakeholders to think decades beyond the actual competition dates.
Visionary Approach: From 2036 to Gujarat 2050
Makis Asimakopoulos, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the second edition of the International Olympic Research Conference held at Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), delivered a compelling message. "You need to think bigger than just the Games in 2036. You need to think about 2050," he stated. The IOA director proposed creating an ambitious vision such as 'Gujarat 2050' and utilizing the Olympics as a strategic vehicle to achieve those long-term goals, rather than treating the games themselves as the ultimate destination.
Sustainability as the Core Principle
Asimakopoulos underlined that sustainability must form the foundation of all Olympic planning efforts. He stressed that every piece of infrastructure and all resources developed during the bidding and preparation phases should be designed with long-term utility in mind, ensuring they continue to benefit local communities long after the closing ceremonies conclude. This approach transforms temporary sporting facilities into permanent community assets.
Building Institutional Capacity and Olympic Integration
The IOA director outlined several critical priorities for nations aspiring to host the Olympic Games. Creating robust national federations emerged as a fundamental requirement, not merely for organizing the games but for developing coaches, nurturing athletes, and ensuring the integration of Olympic values into the school education system. "When you go for the Olympics, you tell the world that you are here not only for sport but also for culture, education and the values of the Olympic movement," Asimakopoulos added, highlighting the multidimensional impact of hosting such events.
Additional priorities he emphasized included preparing administrators and local authorities to handle the massive organizational requirements of the games, ensuring that the hosting experience leaves behind a legacy of enhanced governance capabilities.
Conference Focus on Sustainable Olympic Ecosystem
The four-day International Olympic Research Conference, according to organizers, will concentrate on three key pillars: education, research, and governance related to developing a sustainable Olympic ecosystem. This gathering of experts and stakeholders aims to create frameworks that ensure sporting mega-events contribute positively to host regions for generations to come, aligning perfectly with the visionary approach advocated by the IOA director.
As Ahmedabad and Gujarat continue their preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2030 and their ambitious bid for the Olympics 2036, these insights provide a strategic roadmap for transforming sporting aspirations into enduring developmental achievements that extend far beyond the athletic arena.
