India has officially entered the race to host the 2036 Olympic Games, presenting Ahmedabad as its proposed host city during a key meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials in Lausanne on Tuesday.
A top-level Indian delegation, including representatives from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Gujarat state government, and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha, attended the meeting. Though the IOC recently paused the host city selection process, India took this opportunity to present its vision for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
The meeting comes just days after the IOC announced it would delay the host city selection process due to growing demands from its members for more transparency and broader involvement in the decision-making. Despite the pause, India shared its long-term plans and infrastructure readiness in Ahmedabad, hoping to strengthen its case.
India had already submitted a formal letter of interest in October 2024. Other countries in the running to host the 2036 Olympic Games include Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile. Due to the IOC’s decision to delay the process, the official announcement of the host city may take some time.
During the discussion, India received crucial feedback from the IOC regarding the required standards to host the Olympic Games and future strategies for Olympic development. The Indian delegation described the meeting as a valuable step toward making the 2036 Olympic Games a reality in India.
