IOC Session: PM Narendra Modi confirms India's bid to host 2036 Olympics, says nation will leave 'no stone unturned'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday confirmed India’s bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics, saying the nation would “leave no stone unturned” in bringing the world’s biggest sporting event to its backyard.

PM Modi made the remarks during his speech on the eve of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Annual Session in Mumbai’s Jio World Centre.

“India is very excited to organise an Olympics. India will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organise the 2036 Olympics. It’s a dream of 140 crore Indians. With the support of IOC, we would want to fulfil this dream.

“Sports is not just for winning medals but it is also the best way to win hearts. It not only gives rise to champions but also promotes peace,” Modi said during the event, in which he declared the IOC Session open.

Addressing the 141st International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai. https://t.co/qmO6WLh10a

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2023

It’s not just the 36th Summer Olympics that India is interested in hosting; Modi also confirmed the nation’s interest in hosting the Youth Olympics later this decade.

“We are willing to host the 2029 Youth Olympics, I am sure India will get constant support from IOC,” added Modi, who was present at the venue along with IOC president Thomas Bach as well as Reliance Foundation founder chairperson Nita Ambani.

Read | ‘Absolute honour to host this historic session’, says Nita Ambani

The IOC Session takes place in India for the first time in four decades, with New Delhi having last hosted the high-profile meeting in 1983.

The last time India had hosted a high-profile multi-sporting event was the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017 in which an England side featuring future superstars Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi would go on to be crowned champions after beating Spain in the final.

Opinion: This is the right time for India to bid for the Olympics

Before that, India had hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. India achieved their best-ever performance at the CWG in that edition with a second-place finish ahead of traditional powerhouse England, winning 101 medals.

The next edition of the Summer Olympics takes place in Paris next year. Los Angeles hosts the 34th Games in 2028, making it only the third city after London and Paris to host the premier sporting event thrice.

Read |  India still to make official bid for hosting World Athletics Championships in 2027

Australia’s Brisbane won the bidding rights for the 2032 Games, marking the return of the Games to Australia after three decades with Sydney having hosted the 2000 Games.

Should India win the hosting rights for the 2036 Games, Gujarat’s Ahmedabad is likely to be selected as the host city.