Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an exciting declaration on Saturday, confirming India’s intention to bid for the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics. He shared this significant news during the inauguration of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session, a prestigious event held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
During the event, PM Modi expressed India’s enthusiasm to organize an Olympics, stating, “India is very excited to organize an Olympics.” He emphasized that the aspiration to host the 2036 Olympics is a dream cherished by 1.4 billion Indians. PM Modi pledged unwavering efforts, leaving no stone unturned, to bring this dream to fruition with the support of the IOC. He underscored that sports transcend the pursuit of medals, as they also hold the power to win hearts and promote peace, nurturing not only champions but goodwill.
Furthermore, PM Modi expressed India’s willingness to host the Youth Olympics in 2029, with an assurance that India would receive constant support from the IOC. His announcement occurred in the presence of the IOC president, Thomas Bach.
Notably, India is hosting the IOC session for the second time, marking a significant return after approximately 40 years. The last IOC session held in India was the 86th session in New Delhi in 1983.
Thomas Bach, the IOC president, warmly welcomed the Indian PM by stating ‘aapka bahut-bahut swagat hai’ (we welcome you) and commended India’s remarkable economic and sporting progress. He emphasized that India serves as a source of inspiration, and he praised India’s performance in the Asian Games.
During his address, President Bach highlighted the significance of including e-sports in the Olympics program, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the mindset of the youth and empowering them.
During a press conference the previous day, Bach had mentioned that cricket would be added to the 2028 Olympics due to its increasing global popularity, and he acknowledged the successful hosting of the current Cricket World Cup in India. He noted that cricket, a sport deeply cherished in India, was making strides worldwide. PM Modi lauded this decision, expressing gratitude to the IOC for including cricket, a sport deeply ingrained in India’s culture and one of the most popular.
PM Modi affirmed India’s capability to host major global events, emphasizing that the nation possesses the necessary capacity, logistics, and infrastructure to successfully host the Olympics.
