Upbeat about India’s chances of securing the 2036 Olympic hosting rights, the Union sports minister Anurag Thakur said the country has the resources to compete with other contenders in the bidding war and rejected criticism that the money would be better spent on welfare schemes.

The host of the Games will be decided by the International Olympic Committee’s future host commission not before 2026 or 2027 as the IOC is likely to elect a new president next year. India’s ambitious interest has found support from current IOC head Thomas Bach, who believes the country has a ‘strong case’.

“We are fully prepared. We can easily make it possible,” Thakur revealed while speaking to PTI when asked whether India has the potential to withstand the aggressive bidding war. Several countries like Poland, Indonesia, Mexico, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have either declared interest or are likely to join the race.

“Last year our capital expenditure was Rs 10 lakh crore, and a year before, it was Rs 7.5 lakh crore. This year it is Rs 11,11,111 crore. Sports infrastructure is hardly Rs 5,000 crore. Even if it goes up to Rs 20,000 crore, it can done,” he added, down-playing the cost factor.

The government of India has started its preparations and it wants to make its case stronger by winning the hosting rights of the 2030 Youth Olympics. Plans are afoot to prepare Ahmadabad as the host city for both the showpieces.