 "An Indian delegation is expected to meet International Olympic Committee officials next month to discuss India's bid to host 2023 Olympic Games. Image: AP")
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, has put a “pause” on the selection process for the hosts of the 2036 Olympics, for which India is also a bidder. She has announced the establishment of a working group that will determine an “appropriate time” to identify a future host.
Originally, the decision on the 20236 bid was expected to come out by 2026. India has formally launched a bid to host the 2036 Olympics, and Ahmedabad is reportedly being prepared for the mega event.
IOC to reassess bidding process for 2036 Olympic Games
Coventry, the first woman and the first African President of the IOC, after heading her first IOC executive board meeting, said that the members of the IOC feel that there was a need to reassess the process.
“There was an overwhelming support from the IOC members for a pause to be done and a review of the future host election process and we will be setting up a working group to look into this,” the 41-year-old Zimbabwean said.
“(This is) for two main reasons. Firstly, members want to be engaged more in the process and secondly there was a very big discussion on when should the next host be awarded.”
Coventry said the executive board members believed it was important to study the experiences of already confirmed future hosts — Los Angeles (2028 Summer Games), Brisbane (2032 Summer Games), and the French Alps (2030 Winter Games) — before moving forward with any new proposals.
“So there was a lot of discussion on when is the appropriate time to elect a future host. And also how we should be selecting a future host,” she said, citing the shorter “lead-up time” for the French Alps as the rights were awarded only last year.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsCoventry, however, confirmed that the visit of the Indian delegation led by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao to Lausanne IOC headquarters for informal talks over the 2036 bid will go ahead as planned.
“We want all interested parties to be a part of this pause and reflect and of this review. I am aware of the delegation coming next weekend that will continue. They might be the first interested party for us to ask a couple of questions and to better understand from them. There is not going to be a specific pause on that but just on the entire process,” she said.
“We need to ensure that we have more membership engagement and also look at the timing. When is the most appropriate time, when is the best time, when is the most effective time (to decide an Olympic host).
“What is the most effective way we are not going to overburden any of the stakeholders,” she added.
Coventry hints future Games in Global South
The former Olympic champion in swimming, Coventry, also dropped hints that the IOC is looking towards Global South (comprising Africa, the subcontinent and parts of Latin America) as a possible host of future Olympic Games.
“I think the Global South, in terms of host cities, is not really represented at all. But my job is to ensure that policies are in place to allow anyone who has the ability to host the Games,” she said.