Varanasi, Jan. 5 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India is making strong efforts to host the 2036 Olympics, leveraging its experience in hosting major international events like the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and the hockey World Cup. The country was awarded the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will help develop sports infrastructure and showcase India's capabilities in organising mega sports events. Virtually addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 72nd National Volleyball Championship in Varanasi, Modi said, "You may have noticed that over the past decade, several cities have hosted more than 20 international events, including the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, the Hockey World Cup, and various chess tournaments. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are also scheduled to be held in India. India is now actively preparing to bid for the 2036 Olympics..." Ahmedabad is reportedly bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. The plan involves twin-city development with Gandhinagar and aims to create world-class facilities with officials actively engaging with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries were present at the Varanasi event. The volleyball tournament, scheduled from January 4 to 11, will see the participation of over 1,000 players across 58 teams representing states and institutions. Highlighting the transformation of India's sports ecosystem, Modi said the government is working to build better infrastructure and a funding system. "Because of the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) initiative, the sports ecosystem is being developed in India today," he said, adding that over the past decade, the country has successfully hosted more than 20 international sports events. Modi said India's progress is not limited to the economic front, but is also reflected in the confidence seen on the sports field. The government has significantly increased the sports budget and India's sports model has become 'athlete-centric' with the focus on talent identification, scientific training, nutrition and transparent selection, ensuring that the interests of players are prioritised at every level, the Prime Minister added. India's performance across various sports has consistently improved since 2014, he said and expressed pride in seeing Gen-Z athletes hoist the tricolour on the field....