In a landmark push toward global sporting ambitions, the Union Sports Ministry has proposed the redevelopment of the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) in New Delhi into a modern, world-class ‘Sports City’ spread across 102 acres, sources confirmed on Monday. The move aligns directly with India’s preparations to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
The project is currently in the strategic planning stage, with officials studying sports infrastructure models from Qatar and Australia, both of which have successfully developed advanced multi-sport hubs capable of hosting mega international events. Construction timelines will be finalised once approvals and technical assessments are completed.
A Stadium Full of History, Now Ready for New Horizons
Built originally for the 1982 Asian Games and extensively redeveloped for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the JLN Stadium has been a pillar of India’s sporting history for more than four decades. With a seating capacity of nearly 60,000, it has hosted:
●Major national & international athletics competitions
●Large football matches
●Concerts & national celebrations
And recently, the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, for which a new mondo track worth ₹30 crore was laid
Yet, officials believe it is time for India’s capital to embrace next-gen facilities, matching global standards in athlete preparation, sports medicine, training, and event hosting.
What the New ‘Sports City’ May Include
The proposed mega complex is expected to feature:
High-performance athlete training centres
Multi-purpose indoor & outdoor stadiums
Olympic-standard competition venues
Sports medicine, rehabilitation & biomechanics labs
Residential and academic facilities for elite sports programmes
If executed as envisioned, Delhi’s 102-acre Sports City could become one of India’s largest and most advanced athletic ecosystems.
A Step Toward India 2036
The redevelopment is widely seen as a strategic step toward India’s 2036 Olympics campaign, aimed at signaling readiness, intent, and infrastructure capability to the International Olympic Committee.
Experts believe this project could redefine India’s sports culture, creating not just a venue, but a national training powerhouse.
