IOC Session: 'Great to see Olympic spirit growing in India', says Thomas Bach

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has said that he was pleased to see the Olympic spirit growing in India, as the country prepares to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.

Also read: IOC says decision on 2036 Olympics hosts won’t be taken before 2026

Thomas Bach was speaking on the sidelines of the 141st IOC Session being held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai from 15 October to 17 October.

“It’s great to be back in India after 40 years, to see the Olympic spirit growing so much here in India with the success of the Indian athletes at the Asian Games, with so many initiatives by the Reliance Foundation chaired by IOC member Nita Ambani to see engagement of the youth around the Olympic movement. This is a great feeling. We are back at the right time,” Bach told News18 during an interview.

When asked about India’s plan for bidding to host the Olympics, Bach said that it was crucial to build a dialogue with the IOC.

“We are hearing with appreciation about the number of initiatives here in India to study potential candidature for the Olympic Games 2036. Once this is a real project, of course India is welcome to join the procedure for allocation of Olympic Games,” he said.

“This means to build a dialogue with the IOC on how to build the best possible project for such an Olympic Games,” added Bach.

The IOC Executive Board recently approved for cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and Bach said that the topic would be brought forward during the IOC session.

“This is now in the hands of the IOC members. During this IOC session here in Mumbai, they will vote on this proposal to include cricket into the Olympic program with the T20I format the IOC Executive Board has just approved the proposal and it will be brought forward to the IOC Session, and then we will see the result of the vote,” said the 69-year-old.

I don’t think that the ICC can still do much, but waiting for the result of the vote,” he added. Bach also credited IOC member Nita Ambani in supporting athletes via grassroots level programmes.

“She (Nita Ambani) is playing an exemplary role with her support for the athletes, but also grassroots of the Olympic values education programmes. With the academies of the Reliance Foundation, many, many young kids in India are getting access to sport.

“Many are coming from underprivileged families. They not only get access to sport, but also they get access to education, so that they can make their choices in life later on,” he added.