Hyderabad Hosting Olympics Is My Lifelong Dream: CM

Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed a strong desire for Telangana to host the Olympic Games in 2036 for which India has placed an official bid. Asserting that it was his lifelong dream to witness Hyderabad hosting the Olympic Games, he stated that Telangana and its capital were fully gearing up in every aspect to host this event.

He was speaking at the inaugural of the Gachibowli sports district and the Young India Physical Education and Sports University (YIPESU), along with Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha. He also pitched for Telangana hosting the Khelo India games this November.

A sports university and a sports academy, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, will be constructed across 82 acres. The sports university would be launched in December 2028.

"The country has lagged behind in sports due to the absence of a clear policy. That is why we introduced a sports policy in Telangana.” Revanth Reddy said and called for a policy to set up sports training centres and universities across the country. “We established the Young India Sports University by drawing inspiration from the 'Young India' weekly newspaper of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle," he explained.

Revanth Reddy said that Hyderabad, which once hosted events like the Afro-Asian Games, the World Military Games, and the Commonwealth Games, had not hosted any significant sporting event in the last 20 years. Stadiums built 23 years ago were being used for weddings and political events and the state government was intending to revitalise all of them.

"Hyderabad hosting the Olympics is my lifelong dream. To provide comprehensive support to genuine athletes, we established the sports university through a public-private partnership alongside our sports policy. There will be no government interference in its operations.” Revanth Reddy said and noted that the university had been set up in collaboration with individuals who championed sports and who would have full autonomy regarding its management.

Revanth Reddy recalled how within months of losing the Assembly polls in 2018, he was able to win the Malkajgiri parliamentary seat a year later. "To excel in any field, one must possess focus. That is the only way to succeed. One must practice with total dedication. There is no need to be disheartened by a single defeat. A loss should not discourage us; instead, we should view it as a challenge," the Chief Minister advised.

Cash incentives totalling Rs 7.15 crore were awarded to six athletes from Telangana who demonstrated exceptional talent in various sports.