• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

India Asserts Itself As Rising Sports Power With Streaming Record, Olympic Bid

  • New global streaming mark set just five months after prior record
  • World’s most-populous country mounting effort to host the 2036 Olympics
Womens-Cricket
IPL

India, which became the world’s most populous country earlier this year, is now showing greater strength as a sports power, too.

On Saturday, Disney’s Hotstar reclaimed the global on-demand video streaming record, drawing 35 million concurrent viewers for a ICC World Cup 2023 cricket match between archrivals India and Pakistan. The figure surpassed a prior mark of 32 million concurrent viewers set in May for this year’s Indian Premier League championship match.

Those historic figures helped prompt the International Olympic Committee to complete the process for cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles on Monday. The fact that the decision was made in Mumbai — India’s most populous city — only added to what International Cricket Council chair Greg Barclay called the “icing on the cake.”

The decision is also expected to raise the value of 2028 Olympic broadcasting rights in India by more than $100 million.

Olympic Hosting Aspirations

India is also mounting a bid to host the 2036 Olympics. The IOC’s decision on those Games will not arrive until at least 2026, but the country will likely be vying against Poland, Mexico, and Indonesia — countries that have also expressed interest in the 2036 Games.

“Indians are not just sports lovers, but we love it,” said India prime minister Narendra Modi. “India will leave no stone unturned in the preparation for the successful organization of the Olympics in 2036. This is the dream of the [1.4 billion] Indians.”

Modi and other leaders have not specified a city or region to center the bid, but Ahmedabad is a likely candidate given it has a 132,000-seat stadium named after the prime minister.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at PNC Park.

MLB ASG Missing Many Highly Paid Stars, Clearing Path for Youth

Many of MLB’s top earners are not part of the Midsummer Classic.
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg speaks to the media during a press conference at the Dallas Mavericks Practice Facility.

Cooper Flagg–Bronny James Summer League Tickets Average $201

The average purchase price on resale platform TickPick is $201.
A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
Jul 3, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Jannik Sinner (ITA) returns a shot during his match against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) on day seven at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon’s Expansion Battle Looms Over Star-Studded Quarterfinals

The expansion’s loudest opposition is Save Wimbledon Park.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Jun 13, 2018; Moscow, Russia; A general view of a beer stand inside of Luschniki Stadium one day prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Saudi Arabia Says No Alcohol at 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia won’t allow alcohol anywhere during the 2034 World Cup.
August 30, 2024

Premier League Transfer Spending Has Already Topped $2 Billion As Deadline Looms

Saudi Pro League teams haven’t yet matched their English counterparts.
January 13, 2025

Gavin Newsom Reveals Status of 2028 Olympics As Los Angeles Wildfires Roar

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Wildly Successful Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.
John John Florence (USA) surfs in men’s round two competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach.
July 29, 2024

Olympic Surfers Won’t Get Their Full Paris Moment

‘We’re kind of separate off on our own little thing over here.’