The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formally submitted a ‘Letter of Intent’ to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is the start of a long journey, as the host is to be decided only after the elections for the IOC take place next year.
Strong Competition In Race To Host 2036 Olympics
India has faced a stiff competition as it bids to host the 2036 Olympics against other countries with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey reportedly putting themselves at good standings in this bid. More than ten countries, the IOC states, are showing interest in hosting the games in 2036, since it will be the first free slot.
IOC Head Defends India’s 2036 Bid
The present IOC President, Thomas Bach, has been a supporter of India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics. The last major international multi-sport event that India hosted was the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010, further adding to the country’s credentials for hosting large-scale sporting events.
Ahmedabad Likely To Host 2036 Olympics
Ahmedabad is now considered the front runner to host the 2036 Olympics. India’s top sports officials, including IOA President PT Usha, have been lobbying for the country’s Olympic bid in a bid to make it more solid. The presence has been notable at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
India’s Push For Yoga And Other Sports In Olympics
The IOC is not just bidding for the 2036 Games but also pleading that yoga feature in the Olympic sports calendar. One of the six sports that the Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympics Cell has recommended for possible inclusion, yoga is one of India’s greatest cultural exports and soft-power tools. The five other sports under consideration are Twenty-20 (t20) cricket, kabaddi, chess, squash and kho kho.
IOC rules govern the inducting of new games to the Olympics, as per which the Organising Committee of a particular edition of the Games is given a leeway to propose regional games which enjoy popularity in regions. The proposal for including yoga had come up in December last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially declared the interest of India in hosting the 2036 Games. It has been the cell of the Mission Olympics, made up of former athletes, federation officials and sports administrators who have been taking forward these proposals.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
