AT THE 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries Limited, Nita Ambani outlined an ambitious roadmap for Indian sports, reiterating her long-standing vision of bringing the Olympic Games to India and positioning the country as a global sporting powerhouse.
Speaking in her capacity as Founder Chairperson of Reliance Foundation and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Ambani said her aspiration is to see India host the Olympic Games in the coming decade, describing it as a dream shared by more than a billion Indians. The remarks align with India’s ongoing efforts to secure hosting rights for the 2036 Summer Olympics.
Ambani has consistently argued that India is at the right stage of economic and sporting development to host the Olympics. Earlier this year, she noted that India is set to become one of the world’s largest economies and remains one of the few major nations yet to host the Games. She has also emphasized that an Indian Olympics could focus on sustainability through the reuse and modernization of existing infrastructure.
During her address, Ambani highlighted the scale of sports development initiatives undertaken by the Reliance Foundation. According to the foundation, its sports and education programs have reached more than 29 million children across 28 Indian states, providing access to coaching, sports science, grassroots competitions, and high-performance training facilities.
The foundation’s sports ecosystem now spans multiple disciplines, including athletics, football, cricket, and Olympic sports, with an emphasis on identifying and nurturing talent from an early age through elite levels of competition.
Ambani stressed that sport is not merely about winning medals but about creating opportunities, promoting inclusion, and inspiring young Indians. Through initiatives such as Education and Sports for All (ESA), Reliance Foundation has sought to make sporting opportunities accessible to children from diverse social and economic backgrounds.
She pointed to the foundation’s investment in coaching networks, sports science support, and athlete development pathways as critical components in preparing India to compete consistently on the global stage.
Ambani also highlighted the growth of the Mumbai Indians franchise, which has evolved into a multi-team global sporting network. According to AGM disclosures, the Mumbai Indians family now operates seven teams across four continents and has secured titles in every continent where it competes, accumulating 13 trophies worldwide.
India’s Olympic ambitions have gained momentum in recent years, with the country actively pursuing major international sporting events. Hosting the Olympics is viewed by supporters as an opportunity to accelerate infrastructure development, boost sports participation, and elevate India’s global sporting profile.
As the first Indian woman elected to the IOC in 2016, Ambani has become one of the most prominent advocates for India’s Olympic bid, frequently linking grassroots sports development with the country’s long-term aspirations on the world stage.
