Ahmedabad: In a major step towards hosting a future edition of the Olympic Games, Ahmedabad has been officially designated as the host city in India’s bid for the event. The announcement followed a key meeting on Tuesday between an Indian delegation and officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its headquarters in Lausanne.

This announcement comes shortly after newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry declared a pause in the selection process for future Olympic hosts. With Brisbane already set to host the 2032 Summer Games, India has now set its sights on the 2036 Olympics.

The Indian delegation included Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and track legend PT Usha, along with senior representatives from the Union Sports Ministry and the Gujarat government. Their visit demonstrated a united and strategic approach in presenting India’s case for hosting the Games.

A press release issued by the delegation stated, “The discussions provided a vital platform for the Indian delegation to articulate their vision for hosting a future Olympic Games in Amdavad. Concurrently, they gained invaluable insights from the IOC regarding the requirements for the Olympic Games and its ambitions for the future of the Olympic Movement.”

PT Usha emphasized that hosting the Olympics in India would be a ‘once-in-a-generation’ moment with long-lasting benefits for the nation.

India has experience in hosting large-scale sporting events, having organized the Asian Games twice — in 1951 and 1982 — and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, which remains the biggest multi-sport event held in the country.

However, the race for the 2036 Olympics is expected to be highly competitive. Saudi Arabia, buoyed by its recent successful FIFA World Cup bid, along with Chile, Turkey, and Indonesia, are also in contention.

If successful, India would become the fourth Asian country to host the Summer Olympics, joining Japan (1964), South Korea (1988), and China (2008). — DeshGujarat