IOA President PT Usha assured that despite internal challenges, such as disputes over the appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer, the IOA remains committed to hosting the 2036 Games. The IOC has been monitoring the situation within the IOA, having addressed governance issues in a direct letter to the organization. Last month, the IOC urged the IOA to urgently resolve its internal governance concerns.
India's ambition to host the 2036 Olympics took a significant step forward with the official "Letter of Intent" submitted to the IOC, moving the bid process from the 'Informal Dialogue' to the 'Continuous Dialogue' stage. This includes a feasibility assessment that will evaluate various factors, such as human rights and sustainability, through external bodies like Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Ahmedabad is the leading candidate city, with plans already in motion to develop Olympic-standard infrastructure, including a 300-acre Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Motera. This plan includes six new stadiums, alongside the existing Narendra Modi cricket stadium, with a combined capacity exceeding 100,000 spectators.
The IOC's next step will be the 'Targeted Dialogue,' which involves detailed consultations with Olympic stakeholders, sports federations, and experts to assess various aspects like environmental impact and costs. These discussions began following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pitch at the IOC Session in Mumbai in 2023 and continued to gain momentum, even appearing in the ruling BJP’s election manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
In addition to the bid for the 2036 Olympics, India is also seeking to host the 2030 Youth Olympics. However, concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and doping control have been raised, particularly as India works to align its sports administration with international standards.
