India Submits ‘Letter of Intent’ to bid for Hosting Rights of 2036 Olympics

Ashu Ranjeet November 6, 2024November 6, 2024 2026 Olympics, Olympics

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has officially submitted their letter of Intent in a bid to acquire the authority to host the 2036 edition of the Olympics and Para Olympics, the Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 1st of October, 2024. India last hosted a mega sporting quadrennial event in 2010 The Commonwealth Games,14 years ago.

As per reports, India has not submitted the name of the host city of the region in their formal letter sent to the IOC, unlike other bidders such as Chile (Santiago), Indonesia ( Jakarta & Bali) and Turkey (Istanbul). While Middle Eastern nations Qatar (Doha) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) could potentially present their respective bids.

Indian Olympic Association has formally sent Letter of Intent to Future Host Commission, International Olympic Committee on 1st October 2024 expressing India's interest in hosting the Olympics and Paralympics Games in 2036: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Sources
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2024

This marks a step closer towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of India hosting a major sporting spectacle such as the Youth, Summer and Para Olympics in the near future. Last year, in Mumbai during the inauguration ceremony of the 141st IOC session. Indian Prime Minister publicly expressed his intention to host the Olympics in 2036.

After the Asian powerhouses China, South Korea and Japan, India could become only the 4th Asian country to host the Olympics if they managed to win the bidding war. India will be willing to include various new sports in their bids the prominent ones being Yoga, kho-kho, kabaddi and Chess. With the formal letter of intent is just a baby step towards the prolonged time time-consuming process of Olympic host selection.

Interestingly, if India gets selected as the hosts, the Indian football team can also make their return to global event qualifying as the hosts since their last appearances in 1960. However, it can be quite challenging for India to progress further amid the ongoing conflict among the stakeholders within the Indian Olympic Association headed by President P.T. Usha.

IOA will play a key part in holding the discussion with the IOC on this subject and function as a conduit for communication. Regardless of the inner dispute for control. Besides, India needs to improve several factors on the final criteria upon which the host city (yet to be determined) will be selected are evaluated ranges across infrastructure, economic investments accommodation, security, connectivity well-planned metropolis and public services.