India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad has encountered significant setbacks following recent high-level meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These developments have cast doubt on Ahmedabad's position as a perceived frontrunner in the competition to host the prestigious sporting event. According to a report by The Indian Express, an unnamed official with insights into the meetings highlighted three critical concerns raised by the IOC. These concerns include issues with the governance of the national Olympic committee, failures in anti-doping efforts, and underwhelming performances by Indian athletes at previous editions of the Games. These factors are considered major obstacles, potentially preventing the Olympics from being held in India for the first time.
“It has been communicated very candidly that while India can continue preparing for its bid to host future Olympics, the country has to address these issues first. This was, in a nutshell, the big takeaway from this meeting,” the source said as quoted by Indian Express.
The Indian delegation, led by Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghvi and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha, aimed to make a strong impression during their recent meetings with the IOC. The intention was to effectively launch India's participation in the "Continuous Dialogue" phase of the IOC's bid process, allowing for discussions and exchanges of ideas without any binding commitments. During the visit, Ahmedabad was formally announced as the nominated host city. Simultaneously, the Indian government approved a new national sports policy designed to support the Olympic bid.
Despite the positive steps taken by India, the planned meetings proceeded even after the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, ordered a temporary halt to the bid process and tasked a working group with evaluating and proposing potential changes.
Initially, India was considered a favorite in the bid race, with Coventry and other IOC executives reportedly having close ties to the country. The IOC is looking to India for partnerships that could drive spectator engagement and revenue growth. They are also reportedly close to finalizing a top-tier sponsorship deal with an Indian brand. Further emphasizing the IOC's focus on India, an auction for the Indian broadcast rights for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, which will feature cricket for the first time in over a century, was recently announced.
The inclusion of cricket – India's most beloved sport – in the LA 2028 Olympics program was a strategic move by the organizing committee, seemingly intended to further strengthen ties with India. This decision is also expected to significantly increase the value of the broadcast rights, potentially exceeding the USD $31 million received for the Paris 2024 Games, according to IOC officials.
However, India's bid has been significantly jeopardized by governance issues within the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). In October, the IOC reprimanded the IOA for poor governance and suspended solidarity payments, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to support athletes and sports programs. Further sanctions, including a potential suspension, could follow, which would effectively halt the Olympic bid. The reprimand stems from allegations of financial mismanagement, including unpaid bills and disagreements between President PT Usha and Executive Committee members regarding the ratification of the CEO. The IOC has also expressed concerns over unfiled annual reports and repeated delays or cancellations of critical meetings. At one point, Usha appealed to the press to refrain from reporting negative stories, fearing it would harm the Olympic bid.
Another significant hurdle for India's Olympic aspirations is the issue of doping. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has identified India as a nation with a high number of doping violations and positive test rates, indicating a serious problem that requires substantial effort to address through improved testing and cultural shifts.
Furthermore, India's performance in previous Olympic Games has been considerably weak in relation to its large population. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian athletes secured a total of six medals, none of which were gold, placing the nation at 71st in the overall standings. This has been a consistent trend since India first participated in the Olympics in 1900.
The newly approved Khelo Bharat Niti national sports policy is designed to tackle these challenges by fostering better integration between sports and education, improving sports infrastructure, and promoting a stronger sports culture. However, the impact of this policy may take several years to materialize.
The timeline for selecting Olympic hosts has also changed since the pre-2019 reforms, where cities were elected seven years in advance. Currently, there is no fixed schedule. The contracts for the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Games were signed eleven years prior to the events. The newly formed working group led by Coventry is expected to re-evaluate the timing of the bidding process. Besides Ahmedabad, several other locations have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics. These include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Nusantara in Indonesia, Santiago in Chile, South Africa, Egypt, and North Jeolla in South Korea. European contenders include Germany, Istanbul, Budapest, Barcelona, and Madrid.