India's Next Sporting Engine
As India sets its sights on hosting the 2036 Olympic Games, a quiet but powerful transformation in the state of Odisha is providing a potential blueprint for the nation's success. Long recognised as the heartland of Indian hockey, Odisha is now executing a deliberate and well-funded strategy to become a dominant multi-sport hub. By investing in world-class infrastructure from the grassroots to the elite level and integrating sports development with broader economic goals, the state is positioning itself not just as a host for major events, but as the foundational engine for India’s future sporting ambitions.
From Audacity to Opportunity
Odisha’s journey onto the international sporting stage was forged in 2017, when it successfully hosted the Asian Athletics Championships with a mere 90-day notice. This high-pressure success created a deep-seated belief within the state's administration that they could compete on a global scale. This ethos of seizing opportunities was previously demonstrated with hockey. At a time when the national sport was struggling for sponsorship and attention, Odisha stepped in to sponsor the Indian national team and proceeded to host two FIH Hockey World Cups, building two of the world's finest hockey stadiums in the process. This history of bold, strategic intervention has become the state's hallmark.
The Grassroots Revolution
The state's vision is now expanding dramatically with an unprecedented investment in local infrastructure. The newly elected government has announced a monumental ₹4,124 crore, five-year plan to build a comprehensive stadium in each of the state's 314 administrative blocks. Each facility is designed to be a holistic complex, featuring a 400-meter athletic track, a football ground, two badminton courts, and an indoor hall. This massive undertaking aims to democratise access to quality sporting facilities, ensuring that talent can be identified and nurtured from the ground up, a critical step that has long been a missing piece in India's national sports landscape.
Building a Complete Ecosystem
Odisha's strategy is built on three core pillars: infrastructure, coaching, and competition. Beyond the new block-level stadiums, the state boasts the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, a premier multi-sport complex that includes a sports science centre run in partnership with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation. This facility provides elite athletes from across India with access to world-class recovery and rehabilitation technology. This development model was meticulously planned. Officials studied global best practices for stadium management and forged key partnerships with private entities like Reliance and Tata to build out specific sporting ecosystems. Simultaneously, the state made a conscious effort to boost its tourism sector, ensuring a supply of high-quality hotels to accommodate international athletes and delegations—a key lesson learned from the 2017 championships.
The Socio-Economic Return
State officials are clear that this massive investment is not a diversion from economic development but a driver of it. They view sport as an economy in itself, one with a significant multiplier effect. The construction and operation of new facilities create jobs, while hosting international events boosts tourism and local businesses. The success of state-supported athletes also creates a powerful socio-economic dividend. For example, a high-performance centre for Kho Kho in Puri has produced a national championship-winning team. The prize money, educational support, and access to government jobs through the sports quota have provided financial security for the athletes and their families, inspiring a new generation to pursue sports. This holistic approach ensures that the investment in sports builds not just medals, but stronger communities and a more robust regional economy. As India looks toward 2036, Odisha’s comprehensive model offers a compelling vision for how the entire nation can prepare to meet its Olympic dream.
The Bottom Line
- Strategic Vision: Odisha is moving beyond hockey to become a multi-sport hub, positioning itself as a key pillar for India's 2036 Olympic bid.
- Massive Grassroots Investment: The state has launched a ₹4,124 crore plan to build a comprehensive stadium in each of its 314 blocks, ensuring widespread access to quality infrastructure.
- Holistic Ecosystem: The model focuses on the three pillars of infrastructure, coaching, and competition, supported by world-class sports science and strategic partnerships with the private sector.
- Socio-Economic Driver: Odisha views its investment in sports not as an expense but as a catalyst for economic growth, creating jobs, boosting tourism, and providing pathways to financial security for athletes.
