India is one of the many countries in contention to host the Olympic Games in 2036, the earliest available slot after the Los Angeles Games in 2028 followed by Brisbane in 2032. (Reuters)
From the country’s religious diversity to sending a message of peace to the world “at a time when it is needed the most”, India’s “strategic position along the ancient silk and spice routes” to its “continued rise on the global stage” — all these form part of the Indian Olympic Association’s pitch for the 2036 Olympic Games, The Indian Express has learnt.
The IOA’s letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sent last month, declaring its “intent to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Bharat (India)”, was drafted in consultation with the government. It marks an important step in India’s bid for the 2036 Games. Other countries in the race include Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Confirming the contents of the letter, two officials involved in India’s 2036 bid said it has dipped into the country’s “vast cultural diversity, shaped by thousands of years of history”. “Our society is a mosaic of religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism, each contributing to our rich cultural heritage and society,” the letter is learnt to say.
“The entire nation is united in this dream by the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ — a Sanskrit phrase that means ‘the world is one family’ — and to seek peace, friendship and collective progress among all nations. This is India’s and our Olympic bid’s message to the world at a time when it is needed most,” it says, according to sources.
The “desire to host the Olympics is a national priority” and “enjoys incredible support at all levels of government, our population, and our commercial sector… Our strategic position along the ancient Silk and Spice Routes made India an intersection for travellers from regions as varied as Persia, China, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. This interaction has left a lasting imprint on every aspect of Indian culture — much like the Olympic Movement itself,” it is learnt to say.
While stating that India is the “only major economy yet to host the Games”, it adds: “And while we recognise that is not the sole reason to award a Games, it is a stark reflection of our region’s need for the types of sport and social benefits that only the Olympic Games can provide.”
Apart from highlighting the possibility of the Games serving as a “critical catalyst for India’s continued rise on the global stage”, the letter also talks about the “transformative economic, social and cultural impact in wider SAARC nations in South Asia”.
India is learnt to have told the IOC that “there are over 600 million Indians under the age of 25” and “in India’s current stage of economic development, the Games would serve as a powerful force for job creation and business opportunities, particularly in sectors connected to sports infrastructure, services and tourism”.
India is one of the many countries in contention to host the Olympic Games in 2036, the earliest available slot after the Los Angeles Games in 2028 followed by Brisbane in 2032. A decision, following a long-drawn process, is not expected before 2026 or 2027, the IOC has said.
While there is no mention of a host city in the letter of intent, Ahmedabad is considered to be the frontrunner. The Gujarat government has formed a special cell — Gujarat Olympic Planning and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (GOLYMPIC) — to plan the Games, and Home Minister Amit Shah has been closely monitoring the bid’s progress.
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