WHILE IT continues to be ostracised from world sport following the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has offered to help India in hosting the 2036 Olympics if the bid receives backing from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Russia’s Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said his country’s “specialists will be happy to help in organising the Olympic Games in India”.
Although no concrete official move has been made, India has repeatedly expressed interest to host the 2036 Games with Ahmedabad as the central city.
Last year, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra proposed a unique multi-city bid that will be centred around Ahmedabad as the key destination. Two months ago, Gujarat’s Advocate General Kamal Trivedi told the Gujarat High Court that “we are preparing for the Olympics of 2036” and that the “Olympic Committee will visit in 2025”.
On Wednesday, during his visit to India, Matytsin told RIA Sport that Russia was “very happy” that India is hoping to host the Games.
“If such a dream as hosting the Olympic Games comes true, then this will be another criterion for the stable development of the country. We are always open to interaction and ready to share our experience of hosting the Olympic Games, and we have done this many times, so if a decision is made, then Russian specialists will be happy to help in organising the Olympic Games in India,” Matytsin was quoted as saying.
Russian state media also reported that Matytsin put forward the proposal of a friendly football match between Russia, ranked 35 in the world, and 104-ranked India if the latter expressed interest.
