An Indian delegation, comprising representatives from the union sports ministry, Gujarat government, and Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials in Lausanne on Tuesday to officially confirm Ahmedabad as India’s choice to host a future Olympic Games. This meeting occurred shortly after the IOC had announced a pause in the host selection process for future Games.The delegation formally presented Ahmedabad’s bid to host the Olympics, marking the first official communication of this choice to the IOC. With Brisbane set to host the 2032 Olympics, India has set its sights on the 2036 Summer Games.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The Indian representatives used this platform to outline their vision for hosting the Olympics in Ahmedabad while receiving information from the IOC about Olympic Games requirements and future aspirations for the Olympic Movement.“The discussions provided a vital platform for the Indian delegation to articulate their vision for hosting a future Olympic Games in Amdavad (Ahmedabad). Concurrently, they gained invaluable insights from the IOC regarding the requirements for the Olympic Games and its ambitions for the future of the Olympic Movement,” stated the delegation’s press release as per Indian Express.The bid emphasises that hosting the Olympics would provide 600 million young Indians their first opportunity to experience the Olympics in their home country. The proposal incorporates the Indian principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family – aiming to welcome global participants as one during the Games.“We are eager to be a true partner to the IOC in the coming months of this process and, hopefully, in the years to come, as we work together to realise this shared ambition,” said Gujarat sports minister Harsh Sanghavi following the meeting.IOA president PT Usha expressed her vision, stating: “The Olympic Games in India would not just be a spectacular event, they would be one of generational impact for all Indians.”India faces competition from several other nations for the 2036 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile.The timing of India’s bid coincides with recent changes in the IOC’s host selection process. New IOC chief Kirsty Coventry recently announced a pause in the selection process, as IOC members requested more involvement in the decision-making.“There was overwhelming support from the IOC members for a pause to be done and a review of the future host election process and we will be setting up a working group to look into this,” Coventry had announced after her first Executive Board meeting in Lausanne.The pause in the selection process was implemented as IOC members expressed concerns about their limited role in the current selection rules. A working group will be established to review the host selection process and timing of future host announcements.
