India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics has received a shot in the arm, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday (October 6) confirming the country’s bid for the global multisport showpiece.
India is among the seven bidders for the Games, with the official announcement on the host city set to come in 2029.
Besides India, which has presented Ahmedabad as the host city, Qatar is the other major contender for the Olympic Games.
As a way of scaling up its hosting capabilities, India would host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium, named after the country’s sitting Prime Minister.
The two countries have long been seen as the favourites to win the bid, which will be decided by 100-plus members of the IOC in a vote. The members also include Nita Ambani, the chairperson of Reliance Foundation, and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Turkey are also among the bidders. However, they are reportedly considering bids for future Olympic editions like the 2040 and 2044 Games.
The deadline for bids for the 2036 Olympics, however, is not over yet, since the IOC has set an October 31 deadline for more national bodies to join the race.
The IOC also published a 30-page document on Tuesday to guide bidders.
India-Qatar battle!
India last hosted a multisport event – the Commonwealth Games in 2010 – in New Delhi. Dishing out a seamless BWF World Championships in New Delhi recently brought to the fore India’s hosting strength.
Qatar, on the other hand, raised its level by hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. For the 2036 Olympics, Qatar is presenting Doha as the host city, while some of the events could be held in other parts of the country.
However, if Qatar wins the bid for the Olympics, the Games will need to be held in an alternative calendar instead of being hosted in the traditional July-August slot, which has been used at each edition from 2004 in Athens through 2032 in Brisbane.
South Korea would portray Seoul as the host city. Seoul has already hosted the 1988 Olympics, giving Korea an edge over other countries.
Germany, meanwhile, chose Munich, the host for the 1972 Olympics, for the 2036 Games.
South Africa, meanwhile, is presenting Cape Town as its host city. If it wins the bid, the country would become the first African host in the history of the Olympics.
Hungary and Turkey propose Budapest and Istanbul, respectively.
Before the annual announcement in 2029, the IOC’s executive board will approve a shortlist of candidates to develop detailed projects in March.
