Ahmedabad at the gateway to the Olympics
The world's most populous country has intensified its campaign to host the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games following high-level discussions with the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne this week as part of its 'Continious Dialogie' process.
A delegation led by Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha and Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi outlined the country's case at the meeting on Tuesday, with ongoing visits on Wednesday. Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest metropolis, has been proposed as the host city for India's candidacy, which was formalised in October last year with the submission of a Letter of Intent.
India has already formally submitted its bid to conduct the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad with an eye on hosting the Olympic Games in 2036 in the same location.
The visit formed part of the IOC's 'Continuous Dialogue' process, an initial stage of non-committal discussions with interested parties. India's proposal is based on its national development strategy, 'Viksit Bharat 2047', and emphasises youth engagement, long-term socioeconomic impact, and the 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' ethos – a Sanskrit phrase meaning 'the world is one family'.
Photo: IOC
"The discussions provided a vital platform to articulate our vision for hosting the Olympic Games in Ahmedabad," said the Indian delegation in a statement. The talks, they added, will help India 'sharpen its ambition.'
Sanghavi said that Gujarat's "rich history and dynamic spirit" make it a strong candidate to host the Games. "Our investments in sport and our commitment to the Olympic Movement are a testament to this. Hosting the Games would be a monumental step for Gujarat, fostering unprecedented growth and inspiring a new generation," he said.
Celebrated former Olympian Usha described India's engagement with the Olympics as 'transformative', saying that it now extends beyond competition to embrace the broader values of Olympism: peace, education and cultural exchange. "The Olympic Games in India would not just be a spectacular event – they would have a generational impact on all Indians."
Photo: IOC
Although she was not present in Lausanne, IOC member Nita Ambani – the billionaire philanthropist and Reliance Industries director – has played a key role in shaping and promoting India's Summer Games ambitions. Her influence in global Olympic circles has been seen as a major asset to the bid, particularly during Thomas Bach's presidency, when he favoured behind-the-scenes diplomacy over open bidding wars.
This strategy resulted in Brisbane being awarded the 2032 Games following a secretive, fast-tracked process. However, under the new IOC leader, Kirsty Coventry, the system is being reset. Last week, Coventry announced that members had expressed "overwhelming support" for halting the accelerated appointment of a preferred host city for 2036 in favour of a more open and consultative approach. "Members want to be more involved in the process," she said.
India’s bid remains one of the most prominent in what is already a crowded field. Other cities or countries in the running include Nusantara (Indonesia), Istanbul (Turkey), Doha (Qatar), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Budapest (Hungary) and several European contenders. Whether India can maintain its momentum in a potentially more competitive and transparent race remains to be seen.
However, with strong backing from the IOA, the central government, and state authorities, as well as the symbolic significance of bringing the Olympic Games to one of the world's largest and youngest populations, India's case remains a serious one. "Our ambition is bold," said the delegation, "but so is India's future."