As preparations are underway in India for hosting the Olympics in 2036 and the Commonwealth Games in 2030, Gujarat is also getting ready for this. The largest and most modern sports complex in Gujarat has been completed at Narapura in Ahmedabad.

This complex, built at a cost of Rs. 824 crores over an area of 1.18 lakh square meters, will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the upcoming 14th of September. During this time, a grand program and public meeting have also been organized.

Representatives from international organizations such as the Commonwealth Games, World Police and Fire Games, and the Australian Sports Excellence Forum have visited this sports complex and recognized its quality and facilities.

The Asian Aquatic Championship and World Weightlifting Championship tournaments will be held at this newly built sports venue. Thus, this sports complex has already been recognized for its facilities by various international sports committees. This magnificent sports complex has been constructed with the 2036 Olympics in mind.

Sports complex built at a cost of Rs.824 crores is ready

The sports complex built at a cost of Rs. 824 crores in the Pragatinagar, Nandanvan area of Naroda, Ahmedabad, is now ready. The foundation stone of this sports complex was laid by the Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on May 29, 2022.

Designed with modern technology, global norms, and suggestions and recommendations made by various game federations, it has been constructed with a built-up area of approximately 1.18 lakh square meters at an estimated cost of Rs. 824 crores under the guidance of the Department of Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities, Sports Authority of Gujarat, and the Central Government.

Sports Complex Divided into 6 Parts

The Narapura Sports Complex is divided into 6 parts, with separate blocks named Aquatic Stadium, Center for Sports Complex, Indoor Sports Arena, and Community Sports Center. It includes facilities for international level sports such as a diving pool, swimming pool, basketball, volleyball court, badminton court, wrestling court, tennis, table tennis, judo-karate, kabaddi, carrom, chess, and snooker.

In addition, a Fit India Zone has been created inside the complex so that ordinary citizens can stay fit by stepping out of their mobile phones, and accommodation arrangements have also been made for athletes.

The sports complex consists of a total of 4 buildings and 6 gates. A large parking area has been constructed to accommodate 850 two-wheelers and 800 four-wheelers. This sports complex has been established in the heart of Ahmedabad city to provide easy transportation access for people to visit.

Now let’s understand in detail about the 6 parts of the sports complex… Block A: Aquatic Stadium

Block-A of the sports complex is named the Aquatic Stadium, which includes an international standard swimming pool and diving pool, with seating arrangements for 1500 spectators. However, this swimming pool and diving pool cannot be used in the Olympic Games, as according to Olympic regulations, the audience capacity should be around 12,000, and here the seating arrangement is for 1500 spectators.

However, this swimming pool and diving pool can be used in national and international games or Commonwealth Games, where a large competition pool-diving pool has been constructed. This swimming pool is built according to FINA norms. FINA is the short form of a French word. Its full name in French is – Fdration Internationale de Natation. This is the international governing body that sets the rules for swimming pools and diving pools. According to its rules, the swimming pool and diving pool have been constructed here.

What is the Myrtha technology used to build swimming pools?

Generally, we have seen that a pit is dug to build a swimming pool. Blue-colored tiles are fitted, and then water is filled, but this is not the case with Myrtha technology. In this, first, a pit is dug. Then tiles are fitted. After that, high steel girders and steel plates are placed. These girders and plates are PVC coated. After placing the girders, a special type of PVC or rubber-like material sheet is placed on them.

Water is filled over this sheet, so even if a swimmer dives or swims quickly, they will not hit the ground tiles. No injury occurs. Pools with Myrtha technology can host games like the Commonwealth or Olympics. In Myrtha pool technology, the pool can be customized, meaning it can be made smaller or larger according to its capacity.

Imagine if there is a swimming competition for children, the pool can be made smaller. For a major competition the size of the pool can be increased to make it longer. There is a special type of partition in the pool. In Myrtha technology, less concrete is used and less water is used as well.

The modular structure can be recycled, and this material is eco-friendly. In Myrtha pool technology, the impact of earthquakes is reduced. It prevents leakage in the pool.

Block B: Center for Sports Excellence

The second Block-B of the Naranpura Sports Complex has been named the Center for Sports Excellence. It features two large halls measuring 42 by 24, which can accommodate 2 basketball courts, 2 volleyball courts, or 8 badminton courts at a time. In the multisports hall of this center, 2 taekwondo courts or two kabaddi courts, two wrestling matches, or 12 table tennis matches can be held simultaneously.

This center includes a sports science and fitness center with a lounge for players, changing rooms, lockers, equipment store, medical service station, training room with audio-video facility, and an administration office. Additionally, this center includes 8 double rooms for coaches, 100 triple bedrooms for players, and a dining hall for 150 corporates.

A special separate foot overbridge has been constructed to allow players and coaches to go directly from Block-B to Block-C (indoor multisports arena).

Block C: Indoor Multisports Arena

The third Block C is the largest block. This indoor multisports arena will host various international level events including the Olympics in a large hall sized 81 by 45, featuring a total of 16 badminton courts, 4 basketball courts, 4 volleyball courts, 4 gymnastics mats, and in addition, facilities for table tennis, kabaddi, wrestling, and other multipurpose halls.

There is an arrangement for 5200 spectators to sit and watch the match simultaneously. Additionally, there are warm-up areas, lounges for players, coaches, referees, and VIPs, a central admin office, sports federation room, doping area, medical service station, media room, call room, and rooms for technical operational facilities.

Block D: Community Sports Center

This community sports center will be a type of clubhouse, created for the citizens. By taking club membership, various sports can be played in the community sports center. It includes facilities like a cafeteria, library, gym-aerobics, etc. Additionally, a multipurpose hall has been constructed that can accommodate 6 badminton courts, 6 table tennis tables, 6 carrom tables, 9 chess and snooker, and 10 billiards tables.

With an audience capacity of 300 people, arrangements have been made for 6 squash courts and an indoor shooting range.

Fit India Zone for the Public

As you enter from gate number 2 of the Narayanpura Sports Complex, a Fit India Zone has been created on the left side, which any citizen can visit and will always be open to the public. Inside this Fit India Zone, there is a seating area for senior citizens, a children’s zone for kids, a yoga lawn, and for the use of urban residents, a plaza cum skating rink, kabaddi, kho-kho ground, outdoor gym, and jogging track have been constructed.

Outdoor Sports

In addition to the above facilities, as soon as you enter through Gate Number 2 in this sports complex, 6 tennis courts, 1 basketball court, and 1 volleyball court are included on the right side for outdoor sports.

Besides this, an open space between Block-A and Block-B has been used to create a warm-up swimming pool according to FINA norms, allowing athletes to practice a little before the match starts.

Ahmedabad is ready for the 2030 Commonwealth Games

India has also bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games to be held in Ahmedabad before the 2036 Olympics. If approved, the 2030 Commonwealth Games could be organized in Ahmedabad, and it could send a message to the world that Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, is capable of hosting the 2036 Olympics.

For this, delegates of the Commonwealth Games visited and inspected the sports complex in Narayanpura, which received a positive response. According to the rules of the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games, building a sports complex is a challenge, and Ahmedabad has demonstrated its capability in this regard.