Athletics legend Edwin Moses has raised concerns over India's ambition to host major international sporting events such as the 2030 Commonwealth Games, urging the country to determine whether its intentions are rooted in genuine sports development or merely aimed at making a global impression.
India has formally submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to organize the 2030 Commonwealth Games and has also taken preliminary steps towards bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games by sending a letter of intent to the International Olympic Committee.&nbsp;
The country is also one of seven contenders vying to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup in men&rsquo;s football, a sport which continues to face challenges in both performance and governance within India.
Commenting on India's recent moves, Moses, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said that the purpose behind hosting such events needs to be clearly defined. "The key issue is whether the intention behind holding a Commonwealth Games in India is to genuinely promote sports, or if it&rsquo;s simply about staging an event. That&rsquo;s the real question," he said when asked whether hosting large-scale tournaments could help identify and develop elite athletes.
He expressed concern that such events often end up involving individuals who are not actively engaged in sports. "You can hold the Commonwealth Games or any other event and have all the showmanship, government participation, and people seated in the front row who have no direct connection with sports," said the 69-year-old former hurdler.
"That scenario is what needs to be avoided. Unfortunately, it tends to happen frequently."
Moses, who set the world record in the 400m hurdles four times and won 107 consecutive finals between 1977 and 1987, admitted his confusion over why a country with such a vast population struggles to consistently produce elite athletes.
"It&rsquo;s up to individuals in India who have been athletes themselves and know how to drive change. They will need to take charge," he stated. "I&rsquo;m not familiar with the internal politics of sports in India or the reasons why a nation of over a billion people isn&rsquo;t outperforming others in athletics. Frankly, it doesn&rsquo;t add up."
According to Moses, India must increase investment in coaching, training facilities, and other critical infrastructure if it aims to be competitive in Olympic sports. "Many countries around the world that are significantly smaller and financially less equipped than India still manage to develop top-level athletes," he pointed out.
"In general, the infrastructure doesn&rsquo;t appear to be sufficient to support athletes or to take Olympic disciplines seriously. While India has strengths in certain specific sports, the broader challenge lies in areas like coaching, stadiums, and a commitment to helping athletes grow and improve."
He also questioned the level of importance India places on sports beyond cricket. "The question is whether the country places real value on sports other than cricket, which clearly dominates the sporting landscape there," he said. "To what extent do they support disciplines that are less familiar to the public?"
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India must invest in grassroots sports and not just grand events, says Edwin Moses

Olympian Moses Doubts India’s Aim in Hosting Big Events

India must invest in grassroots sports and not just grand events, says Edwin Moses

April 21, 2025 | 18:03 IST