PM Modi Pushes Water, Winter Sports Ecosystem for 2036 Olympics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a broader sporting ecosystem in India, with particular emphasis on water, mountain and winter sports, as the country seeks to increase its participation across Olympic disciplines and strengthen its preparations for the 2036 Olympics. Addressing young participants virtually during the Khelo India Dialogue, Modi said India’s coastline and mountainous regions offer significant potential for developing athletes in disciplines where the country has traditionally had limited representation. 

Focus on Untapped Sports

Modi pointed to India’s limited participation across several Olympic sports as a challenge that needs to be addressed if the country wants to improve its overall presence on the global sporting stage. He cited disciplines such as surfing and sports climbing as examples where India could build greater participation by making better use of its geographical advantages. 

The Prime Minister said India has a long coastline as well as extensive mountainous terrain, creating natural opportunities for water and winter sports. He called for district-level sporting ecosystems that can identify local talent and provide athletes with the infrastructure and training needed to progress towards national and international competition.

Talent Hunt for Young Athletes

The emphasis on broader participation is linked to a nationwide talent identification effort for children aged between five and 15 years. Modi said the objective should not be limited to finding out which sport a child likes, but also identifying the discipline in which the child has the greatest potential.

The Prime Minister said young athletes identified through such initiatives would need appropriate training and long-term support. He also assured participants that the government would provide support as they pursue sporting careers.

Preparing for 2036 Olympics

The Prime Minister linked the development of new sporting disciplines directly with India's preparations for the 2036 Olympics. He said the focus should be on creating athletes capable of qualifying for and competing in a wider range of sports.

India's Olympic ambitions are also part of the broader Khelo India framework. The revamped Khelo India Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31 has a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore along with enhanced assistance for National Sports Federations. The programme aims to create a structured pathway from grassroots talent identification and training to international competition and Olympic preparation.

Districts to Build Ecosystems

The Prime Minister's comments put the spotlight on the importance of local sporting infrastructure. Rather than concentrating opportunities only in established sporting centres, the proposed approach seeks to build discipline-specific ecosystems in different districts according to local geography and available talent.

For water sports, coastal and lake regions could provide a natural base, while mountain and snow-covered areas could support winter disciplines. The approach could also create opportunities for young athletes who may otherwise have little exposure to sports outside the country's more established disciplines.

India has already been expanding its domestic winter sports structure. The Khelo India Winter Games have provided athletes with a national-level platform in disciplines that have historically had limited competitive exposure. 

Wider Sporting Participation

The Khelo India Dialogue itself is part of a larger youth engagement programme being organised across more than 1,500 educational institutions. The initiative focuses on strengthening India's sports ecosystem, Olympic aspirations, youth leadership, Viksit Bharat and youth participation in nation-building. 

The government's expanded Khelo India framework also places emphasis on women athletes, para-athletes, indigenous sports and greater domestic competition. It includes talent identification, sports science, coaching, academies and international exposure as parts of a longer athlete-development pathway.

For India, the challenge now is to turn geographical potential into sustained sporting performance. Developing water and winter sports will require more than identifying talent, including specialised coaching, equipment, competition opportunities, sports science and access to appropriate facilities.

Modi's call reflects a wider shift in India's sporting strategy—from focusing primarily on disciplines where the country already competes to identifying opportunities across a much broader Olympic landscape. If district-level ecosystems and early talent identification are implemented effectively, the approach could expand India's athlete pool and give more young people a route towards international competition.