India’s pursuit of the 2036 Olympics remains resolute, according to PT Usha, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president. This assertion follows the submission of a formal letter of intent by the IOA to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission, highlighting India’s determined ambition to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. This document marks a substantial milestone in the nation’s sustained desire to bring this illustrious event to its shores.
Usha emphasized that since the previous year, the IOA has engaged in consistent discussions with IOC President Thomas Bach and other officials connected to the Future Host Commission. These conversations, bolstered by participation in both executive and observer programs during the Paris Olympics, ultimately culminated in the submission of the letter in early October.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment, despite some internal hurdles within the IOA. I remain hopeful that the IOC will recognize India’s readiness to serve as a hospitable host,” Usha remarked.
With Los Angeles, United States, slated to host the 2028 Olympics, and Brisbane, Australia, to host in 2032, the IOC has yet to finalize the 2036 venue. India faces competition from nations such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Hungary, Indonesia, and Qatar, all vying for the honor of hosting this global spectacle.
Notably, when Mumbai hosted the IOC session last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi boldly proclaimed India’s vision to host the 2036 Games, naming Ahmedabad as the prime candidate for the event. Following this announcement, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) was launched in July 2023 to oversee the development of Olympic-standard infrastructure in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. A comprehensive master plan, budgeted at 6,000 crores, envisions a 300-acre Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Ahmedabad’s Motera area, featuring six new stadiums with a combined capacity exceeding one lakh, complementing the existing Narendra Modi cricket stadium that seats over 1.1 lakh.
India’s progression to this phase—the “Continuous Dialogue” stage, marked by the submission of the ‘Letter of Intent’—propels the country closer to hosting as it enters a period of “Feasibility Assessment.” This assessment is multi-faceted, drawing on independent evaluations from entities like Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) for human rights concerns and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for sustainability considerations, as detailed on the IOC’s website.
Next in the IOC’s selection framework is the “Targeted Dialogue,” where the committee engages deeply with Olympic Movement stakeholders, including international sports federations and environmental experts, to analyze critical factors such as ecological impact and budgetary implications. Upon completing this stage, the IOC will reach its decision.
The ambition to showcase India on the Olympic stage has been a priority since PM Modi’s audacious proposal last October. This aspiration was even included in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto for the recent Lok Sabha elections, underscoring its national significance.
The IOA’s lobbying efforts extended to the creation of an ‘India House’ at this year’s Paris Olympics, where considerable diplomatic engagement was reportedly undertaken by the Indian delegation.
In parallel, there were deliberations within India’s Mission Olympic Cell—a consortium comprising eminent former athletes, federation leaders, and officials from the Sports Ministry—about proposing six indigenous sports for inclusion in the Olympic program: yoga, Twenty20 cricket, kabaddi, chess, squash, and kho kho.
Despite these concerted efforts, the journey has encountered obstacles. Last month, reports surfaced of delays in the bid process caused by internal IOA disputes concerning the appointment of Chief Executive Officer Raghunath Iyer, a development that underscores the challenges facing India’s Olympic aspirations.