India submits Letter of Intent to host 2036 Olympics

New Delhi: Encouraged by medals coming to India at the Olympics, the government is now planning to bring the Olympics itself to the country. Taking the first formal step in this regard, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) last month submitted a “letter of intent” to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission, expressing the desire to host the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics Games. It is learnt that India has indicated Ahmedabad in Gujarat to be the preferred host city.

The letter, it is learnt, was submitted on October 1, but information got public only on Tuesday. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s aspiration last year to host the 2036 Olympics. He tasked Union minister for sports and youth affairs Mansukh Mandaviya to personally oversee the project. This was followed by a detailed report by the Sports Authority of India’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) on the measures needed for a successful bid.

According to sources, if the bid is successful, India may seek the inclusion of six disciplines -- yoga, kho kho, kabaddi, chess, T-20 cricket and squash.

Though India’s Olympics bid has been backed by current IOC head Thomas Bach, it still faces stiff competition from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. On her part, president of IOA P.T. Usha, along with other officials, tried to prepare some ground for India’s aspirations at the Paris Olympics earlier this year and lobby for the country. However, a decision on the host will not be taken before the IOC elections next year.

If allotted, it will be the fourth mega game to be hosted by India after Asian Games (1951 & 1982), Afro-Asian Games (2003) and Commonwealth Games (2010). Apart from boosting sports infrastructure, the government sees hosting the Olympics as an opportunity to reposition itself on the world stage, apart from economic growth and tourism promotion. The successful hosting of the G-20 summit by India in 2023 has boosted the government’s confidence to handle mega events.

Olympic bids are assessed according to a number of elements, including how well they fit with existing regional and national development plans, in addition to the long-term strategic goals of the Olympic Movement.

The hosts are chosen in a vote by the IOC Members. The process is overseen by two permanent Future Host Commissions -- one for the summer and another for the winter games. These commissions, composed of IOC members and other Olympic Movement stakeholders, make recommendations to the IOC executive board regarding possible future hosts, says information on the International Olympic Council website.

Going by information on IOC, the selection of host city is a four-step process that begins with informal exchange that starts with initial discussions between IOC and potential future hosts.

The Olympics host selection process has been reformed in recent years to reduce the cost of hosting and to make Games organisation more sustainable. For example, all hosts must use a maximum of existing and temporary venues and build new ones only if there is a long-term legacy need. To achieve this, events can be located in more than one city, region or country.