The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is quite enthusiastic and hopeful about hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. India has long dreamed of hosting the Olympic Games, and now this opportunity seems to be gradually approaching.
Olympics 2036: India has taken a significant step towards hosting the 2036 Olympic Games, but the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) believes that it is too early to draw any conclusions regarding the hosting. IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer recently spoke openly about this topic at a press conference, stating that India is seriously involved in the race, but the final decision will take time.
IOA's Statement on India's Olympic Hosting Bid
IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer said, "We would like to believe that we are very positive, but it would still be premature to say who will get the hosting rights, as many countries are still involved. India formally submitted an Expression of Interest to host the 2036 Olympics last year."
Since then, India has been in continuous dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s Future Host Commission. However, the host selection process is lengthy and phased.
Qatar Also in the Fray, Increasing the Level of Competition in the Hosting Process
Qatar has also joined the race to host the 2036 Olympics. It has started initial discussions with the IOC, increasing the competition for India and other countries. Given Qatar's b grasp on hosting global sporting events, this could be a challenging situation for India.
The IOA believes that the announcement of the 2036 Olympic host is likely to happen in the next two years, as the IOC has currently decided to pause the entire process.
Changes in the Process Possible with the Arrival of the New IOC President
Raghuram Iyer also stated that there has been a leadership change in the IOC, and the new president is considering bringing about some structural changes. He said: "This is a time for the IOC to think. There may be changes in the IOC under the new president's leadership. The direction will be clear in the next few years." This indicates that the IOC is considering some policy reforms and changes to the process, which may delay the host selection.
IOA Executive Member Harpal Singh also gave a statement on hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games. He stated that India's chances have strengthened after Canada withdrew from the race. He said: "We are very hopeful that the 2030 Commonwealth Games will be held in India. The process is still ongoing, and the final decision will be taken at the General Assembly in Glasgow in the last week of November. This decision will come when the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has spoken to all potential hosts."
'India Pledge' Campaign: An Initiative to Connect 100 Million People to Sports
IOA Athletes Commission Vice-Chairman and former table tennis player Sharath Kamal announced an ambitious campaign called 'India Pledge'. This campaign will begin on August 29, National Sports Day. Its objective is:
- To connect 100 million Indians to some sport or fitness activity
- To promote sports culture in the country
To increase public participation so that India is more prepared to host major sporting events in the future. Sharath Kamal said: "India is rapidly moving towards athlete-centric programs. The aim of 'India Pledge' is to increase awareness about sports across the country."
