International Olympic Committee Session: Everything you need to know about the IOC meeting in Mumbai

India will make a big jump forward in its journey as an Olympic nation when Mumbai hosts the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 15 October to 17 October. The IOC session is returning to India after a 40 year gap. It was last held in New Delhi in 1983.

What is an IOC session?

An IOC session is a decision-making body of the Olympic movement. It discusses and votes on key activities of the global Olympics movement, including modifications of the Olympic charter, election of IOC members and office-bearers and choosing host cities of future Olympics, among other things. For India, one important discussion will be whether cricket makes the cut for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

How did India win rights to host the IOC session and when?

An Indian delegation, led by Mrs Nita Ambani, first Indian woman to be elected as an IOC member, made a pitch for the country’s selection at the 139th IOC session in Beijing in February 2022. An overwhelming 99% of the participants voted in favour of Mumbai’s bid. Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympics gold medallist in 2008, was also part of the delegation.

“The Olympic Movement is back to India after a 40-year wait! I am truly grateful to the International Olympic Committee for entrusting India with the honour of hosting the IOC Session in Mumbai in 2023,” said Mrs Ambani when Mumbai’s winning bid was confirmed. “This will be a significant development for India’s Olympic aspiration and will herald the start of a new era for Indian sport.”

Who will be part of the IOC session?

The IOC session has 99 voting and 43 honorary members. More than 600 members of the world’s elite are expected to arrive in Mumbai, as well as global media from about 100 nations, representing over 50 sports. This includes heads of sports federations like wrestling, basketball, hockey, badminton athletics and more. Heads of state from Qatar, Jordan, Monaco, Luxembourg, Bhutan, Royalty from Britain and Liechtenstein are also expected to attend.

Mumbai to host IOC session in 2023: How it will put India on global sporting map

The IOC session will also bring together global sporting dignitaries such as IOC president Thomas Bach and other IOC Members. It includes World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission Dakar Youth Olympics 2026 Kirsty Coventry, Prince Souverain Albert II of Monaco, two-time Olympic pole vault gold medallist Yelena Isenbaeva, two-time Olympic 10000m silver medallist and National Olympic Committee of Kenya president Paul Tergat, Olympic pole vault gold medallist Sergey Bubka, Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, to name a few.

Why is an IOC session important?

An IOC session will be a landmark moment for Indian sport and opens up avenues for hosting sporting events, setting up world-class training infrastructure, nurture talent and improve lives of Indian athletes. It will also be a significant step towards India’s ambition of hosting the Youth Olympics and Olympic Games in the future.

“Sport has always been a beacon of hope and inspiration for millions around the world,” said Mrs Ambani. “We are one of the youngest countries in the world today and I’m excited for the youth of India to embrace and experience first-hand the magic of the Olympics. It is our dream to strengthen this partnership further and host the Olympic Games in India in the years to come!”

Thomas Bach had given India’s ambition of hosting the Games an approval during an interview. “That’s up to India. Here, our doors and hearts are wide open,” Bach said on CNBC-TV18. “India can play a much more important role in the Olympic movement and for the Olympic movement to have such a growth potential as with India. It’s of course very welcome.”

Where is the IOC session being held?

The IOC session will be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Situated in Bandra Kurla Complex, JWC is the largest convention centre in India and started operations in 2022. The Grand Theatre at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) will host the opening ceremony while the Exhibition Hall (Pavilion) will be the venue for the Session Meeting.

When will the IOC session be held?

The 141st IOC Session will be held from 15 to 17 October, with the opening ceremony taking place on 14 October. It will be preceded by the meetings of the IOC Executive Board on 12, 13 and 14 October.