Ahmedabad 2036

[Victorian]

On 10/10/2025 at 2:54 PM, myki said:

Would the IOC perhaps tread carefully with Ahmedabad and wait and see if/how a Commonwealth Games holds up first - through their planning, preparation and execution. Then if all goes well, an easy decision on a future Olympic Games after that perhaps.

Yep. I still think 2036 will go to Europe with 2040 being awarded to Asia

[Sir Rols]

Starting to look even shakier 

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[sebastien1214]

13 hours ago, FYI said:

This should prob be taken to an India 2036 thread at this point (maybe rols can take it there), but which city/cities there did you go to? Was one of them Ahmedabad, the proposed bid city? What was it exactly that made you think India is just not up to the Olympic ask? Just curious in your exact realization since you were recently there.

---

@FYI

I visited Mumbai and Delhi, the major metropolises, and of course the other cities on the classic North India tour. I didn't go to Ahmedabad; however, all the points I noted were common to all the cities, so I think it must be the same for Ahmedabad.

I really enjoyed my trip (I'll say it again just in case...) but still, I'm worried that Ahmedabad 2036 (if it happens) will be worse than Rio 2016. Let's talk about infrastructure. I'll take the example of transport infrastructure: India invests massively in such infrastructure, for example, the metro. I used many metro lines that were only 12-24 months old, and I was appalled to see how dilapidated they already seemed, as if they were 30-40 years old without any renovation. Clearly, you can tell the infrastructure is being rushed, which is potentially dangerous: look at Novi Sad in Serbia.

Regarding India's hotel infrastructure: it's a far cry from Western standards, which are what one expects in a city hosting the Olympics. I should clarify that personally, this didn't bother me at all; it's a different experience that should be appreciated. I personally enjoy traveling to countries that take me out of my Western lifestyle, and I find it amusing to shower with a bucket. Now, I know perfectly well that the majority of people who travel, especially for the Olympics, won't share my opinion. And another point related to the previous one: I got the impression that many hotels were built recently, but again, built far too quickly, with significant malfunctions.

On everything that is sports infrastructure, I don't have much to say, I haven't attended sporting events (sorry, but cricket pisses me off). But even if in terms of sports infrastructure everything is ok... the rest has to follow, and that's not the case.

And then last points: India is a stuffy country. In Paris, I remember that everyone had praised the fact that transport was efficient, that the flows of people were fluid, especially near the places of competition, etc. In India, you have hellish traffic, people drive like dangerous kamikaze, as a pedestrian every time you cross a street you risk your life, and the number of people is such that you will only jostle. Imagine, you have to go to the Olympic stadium in Ahmedabad, you go there by metro, let's admit that you have 1km walk between the two: frankly, I don't see how it can be.

And I can't help but make this last point: the attitude of the Indians towards women is problematic. I'm sorry, I hate to do generalities, even more so on an entire people who are already subject to many prejudices, often unjustified and too often racist (no, Indians are not dirty, no, Indian cuisine is not Disgusting just because there are 3 street food stands with dubious hygiene, etc.). But I must also admit that I myself witnessed too many things that challenged me about the attitude of the Indians towards the female sex (while I am a man and I was traveling alone!), and it is just not acceptable, and of course It's not just a problem for the Olympics.

I would love to see the Olympics held in India one day. But I underestimated the scale of the changes needed in India to prevent it from becoming a disaster. The experience of the 2010 British Colonial Games is one thing; but the Olympics are something else entirely—it's literally the eyes of the world on the country for two weeks.

 

[baron-pierreIV]

Reliance isn't even coming thru for World Cup 2026, what more for a 2036 Olympics.  It looks like the Ambanis are all talk.  I hope India doesn't get 2036.  

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[cfm Jeremie]

Comparing apple and oranges...