India has officially submitted a ‘Letter of Intent’ to the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission, indicating its intention to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) submitted the letter on October 1, a source within the sports ministry has revealed.
“This monumental opportunity could bring substantial benefits, fostering economic growth, social progress, and youth empowerment across the country,” the source added.
A decision regarding the host nation will not be made until after the IOC elections next year. India will also face competition from several other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, which are all positioning themselves as strong contenders to host the prestigious event.
With the submission of the ‘Letter of Intent,’ India has advanced from the “Informal Dialogue” phase to the “Continuous Dialogue” stage of the host election process. In this stage, the IOC conducts a “feasibility study” to assess the progress of projects related to the Games in the potential host nation.
“As part of the Feasibility Assessment, independent sources in a wide-ranging number of areas are taken into consideration, including in human rights, through Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), and sustainability, through the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),” the IOC states on its official website.
The next stage of the process is called “Targeted Dialogue”, which necessitates the submission of a formal bid specific to the event, to be evaluated by the Future Host Commission. The process will ultimately conclude with the selection of a host city.
India’s bid has received support from the current IOC president, Thomas Bach. The last time India hosted an international multi-sport event was during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. For the 2036 Olympics, Ahmedabad is emerging as a leading candidate to serve as the host city.
(With PTI inputs)
