The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has officially written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressing interest to host the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics. According to the sports ministry, the “Letter of Intent” was sent by the IOA on October 1st, marking the first step towards securing the hosting rights. Previously, India had informally discussed the possibility of hosting the 2036 Olympics with the IOC.
The IOC is unlikely to make a decision on the host city until after its elections next year. However, India will face competition from several other countries interested in hosting the 2036 Olympics, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. India had earlier shown interest in hosting the 2032 Olympics, but later decided to focus on 2036 for some reasons.
The IOC leadership is expected to carefully evaluate applications from interested countries, considering factors like sponsorships, broadcasting rights, government support, and public enthusiasm. Experts believe India hosting the Olympics could be financially beneficial for the IOC. Therefore, the IOC is said to be keen on India’s bid.
If India’s bid is successful, the Olympics events are likely to be held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier stated that India will make all necessary efforts to host the 2036 Olympics, and the country won’t back down from this endeavor. “Indians are enthusiastic about hosting the Olympics. We will make all efforts to host the 2036 Olympics in India. We won’t step back in any way. This is the dream of 1.4 billion Indians. We are also ready to host the 2029 Youth Olympics,” Modi said.
-Sanyogita
