Chennai: In a major push to position Chennai as an international sports destination, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday announced the establishment of a world-class Olympic City in the state capital. The announcement was made under Rule 110 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Olympic City to Feature World-Class Facilities
According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Olympic City will be developed by the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority and will include:
- World-class sporting arenas
- State-of-the-art training equipment
- A High Performance Training Centre
- Dedicated Sports Science and Sports Medicine centres
- Residential facilities for athletes and coaches
The government said the project is designed to build an integrated sports hub that gives Tamil Nadu's athletes access to advanced training and support systems, with the goal of helping them win more medals at the Olympics and other major international competitions.
Motorsports City to Host F1–F4 Racing
Alongside the Olympic City, CM Vijay also announced plans for a dedicated Motor Sports City in Chennai, intended to host races ranging from Formula 1 to Formula 4. The facility is expected to include an international-standard racing circuit, and the government believes it could boost tourism, specialised vehicle manufacturing, and employment in the region while tying into Tamil Nadu's existing automobile manufacturing ecosystem.
The Chief Minister said young motorsport talent in the state would be identified and given structured training and racing opportunities to develop into national and international-level champions.
Part of a Larger Push to Bring F1 Back to India
The Chennai announcement comes against the backdrop of a broader national effort to revive Formula 1 racing in India. In June, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports set up a task force to monitor motorsports development across the country and submit recommendations to the ministry.
"We will try to bring back F1 in India by 2028. For this, we created a task force which monitors motor sports in the country and submits its report to the Ministry," a source in the ministry said.
Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) President Arindam Ghosh has previously said the Centre is working toward hosting a Formula 1 race in India by 2030, along with a round of the World Rally Championship by 2028 and a MotoGP event, following discussions with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State Raksha Khadse.
Not Without Criticism
The plan to host motorsport events in Chennai has previously drawn criticism from opposition leaders. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has argued that public funds would be better spent on welfare and development projects rather than racing events, and has suggested the government instead make use of the existing Madras Motor Race Track in Irungattukottai near Chennai rather than staging races in congested parts of the city.
