NEW DELHI: India has taken the first decisive step towards hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) submitted a ‘Letter of Intent’ on Oct 1, 2024, to IOC’s Future Host Commission, expressing its desire to bring the Games to the country.
According to sources, IOA has pitched the Olympics as a “monumental opportunity which could bring substantial benefits, fostering economic growth, social progress and youth empowerment across the country”.
During the IOC session held last year in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared India’s aspiration to host the Games in 2036.
With the submission of the ‘Letter of Intent’, India has progressed from the stage of “informal dialogue” to “continuous dialogue” with the IOC. The next phase of the process will be “targeted dialogue”, which would require the submission of an edition-specific formal bid, which would be assessed by the host commission.
The host city will be announced at the IOC session in 2025. Several other nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, too, have been aggressively bidding to host the sporting spectacle.
P T Usha-led IOA has informed the host commission that “hosting of the Games in India will have a transformative economic, social and cultural impact in wider SAARC nations in South Asia, which is home to over 20 percent of the world’s population. Hosting the Games will help integrate sports into the daily lives of every Indian, even in the remotest areas, and contribute towards a healthier and happier population. India’s aspiration extends beyond the immediate goal of organising a Games. It also aims to leave tangible sport, social and economic legacies for generations”.
Sources said that to strengthen India’s candidacy, IOA has projected the Olympics as an occasion to inspire Indian youth. “The strength of India lies in its people. There are over 600 million Indians under the age of 25. Nothing could be more important or inspiring for our youth than hosting the Olympic Games in our own country. India’s bid is focused on leveraging the Games as a transformative opportunity to propel the nation to the next level. Hosting an Olympics will not only celebrate India’s incredible and diverse history and culture but express it in a way that leans into the future for our nation and for the Olympic movement itself”.
Ahmedabad is being seen as the frontrunner to host the Games.
It’s been learnt that India would be pushing for the inclusion of yoga, kho kho, kabaddi, chess, T20 cricket and squash in the Games if the country gets the hosting rights.
