The Indian Prime Minister recently announced the nation’s aspiration to host the Olympic Games ideally in 2036. This announcement was made during the opening of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session held in Mumbai. Previously, only three Asian countries, namely China, South Korea, and Japan, have had the honor to host such a prestigious international event. If successful, India would be the fourth Asian country to do so.
The Selection Procedure of an Olympics Host City
Historically, cities interested in hosting the Olympics would submit a letter to the IOC. This began a multi-year, multi-step evaluation process with the host city typically selected seven years ahead. However, this often led to excess spending, corruption, and scandals.
In lieu of these issues, a new approach was introduced in 2013 when Thomas Bach became the president of IOC: the Olympic Agenda 2020. Officially adopted in 2019, it replaced the rigorous seven-year rule with a more flexible framework, emphasizing flexibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
This new norm entails two stages; continuous dialogue and targeted dialogue. The former allows flexible master planning without specific deadlines. On the other hand, targeted dialogue spans up to 12 months and involves detailed discussions, guarantees, and an advisory report. Notably, all Olympic Games from 2030 must adhere to the IOC’s climate-positive commitment, aimed at reducing bid budgets.
Key Factors Associated with the Olympics
The Olympics are an international sports event occurring every four years. The primary objectives are fostering human development through sports and contributing to global peace. They comprise Summer, Winter, and Youth Olympic Games.
Roots of the Olympics can be traced back to Ancient Greece’s Peloponnese region about 3000 years ago. Though the exact commencement date is uncertain, 776 BC is often recorded in historical annals. Modern Olympics were inaugurated in Athens, Greece, in 1896, as per Pierre de Coubertin’s vision.
The Olympics symbol is five interlinked rings of varying colors (blue, yellow, black, green, and red) on a white backdrop. These rings symbolize the unity and diversity of nations through sports and denote the world’s five continents.
The upcoming Olympic Games are scheduled as follows: Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris, France; Winter Olympics 2026 in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Summer Olympics 2028 in Los Angeles, USA; and Summer Olympics 2032 in Brisbane, Australia.
India’s Track Record in Hosting International Multi Sporting Events
India has previously hosted various international multi-sporting events; it hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982, the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and the South Asian Games in 1987, 1995, and 2016. The country’s experience in organizing such significant events may serve as a solid foundation for its ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
