Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be demolished. (Photo- Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
The famous Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of India’s capital Delhi, which has been an important chapter in sports history, is now standing on the verge of becoming history. The Sports Ministry has decided to demolish this stadium, so that a modern sports city can be built in its 102-acre area. This ground, renovated at a cost of Rs 961 crore for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will now become a medium to realize India’s dream of hosting the 2036 Olympics.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be demolished
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was built for the 1982 Asian Games. With a capacity of 60,000 fans, this stadium is one of the most prestigious places in the country. It was repaired before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the cost of which is said to be Rs 961 crore. Apart from the 2010 Commonwealth Games, big events like the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup were held here. Recently it also became the host of the first World Para Athletics Championship. At present, this complex has facilities like football stadium and athletics track along with archery academy, badminton court, offices of Sports Authority of India, National Anti-Doping Agency and National Dope Testing Laboratory.
A source in the Sports Ministry told PTI that a sports city will be built by demolishing the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Apart from all the major sports, there will also be accommodation facilities for the players. But as of now this scheme is only a proposal and hence the time frame of the project has not been decided yet. To finalize its outline, sports cities of Qatar and Australia are being evaluated. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex in Ahmedabad is an example of this, where facilities are available for cricket, water sports, tennis and athletics etc.
These facilities will be there in the new sports city
The new Sports City will have dedicated venues for all major sports, which will also include accommodation arrangements for athletes. When players come to participate in any event, they will be able to stay near the stadium. This project is currently in the ideation phase. The government is studying models from around the world, especially Doha Sports City, which is spread over 618 acres and was built for the 2006 Asian Games. This city has also organized the 2022 FIFA World Cup.