My vision is to see Hyderabad hosting Olympics in 2036: T'gana CM

Hyderabad, Jul 9 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday said that his vision is to see Hyderabad hosting the Olympics in 2036. Speaking at the launch of the logo and website of Young India Physical Education and Sports University (YIPESU) here, he said sports policy should be formulated first, followed by the establishment of training institutes, academies and other institutions. The state government is keen on establishing such institutions, he said. Telangana had no sports policy during the last 12 years (during the previous BRS regime), he said. Recalling that Hyderabad had hosted the Afro-Asian Games and Military World Games during 1999-2004, he said no such major events were held in Hyderabad in the last two decades. The sports infrastructure, including sports stadiums, built in Hyderabad during undivided Andhra Pradesh, was used for organising marriages and political programmes in the last several years, which is unfortunate, he said. "I have decided to revive sports culture in Hyderabad, Telangana. In 2036, India wants to host the Olympics. We are preparing our state, our Hyderabad to host the Olympics. That's my dream," he said. It feels sad to see India, a country with a population of 140 crore, not winning medals in world sports events like the Olympics, he said. The state government has initiated the sports university in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, with the government acting only as a facilitator. The board of the university comprises industrialists and sports personalities, including Kapil Dev and Abhinav Bindra, he said. He sought the support of Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha, who was present on the occasion, in promoting sports in Hyderabad. He also said that Telangana would host the Khelo India Games in November this year. He said the sports university would come up in 82 acres and that he would inaugurate the university by December, 2028. Meanwhile, a government statement said Telangana would host the 8th Edition of Khelo Youth Games 2026 and the National Inter-District Junior Athletics Meet (NIDJAM). The state would also play host to the Hockey India League, World Pickleball League, Archery Premium League, Tennis Premier League, it said. PTI SJR SJR KH