In a surprising turn of events, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has paused its ongoing process to select the host country for the 2036 Summer Olympics—a development that
In a surprising turn of events, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has paused its ongoing process to select the host country for the 2036 Summer Olympics—a development that deals a temporary blow to India’s strong bid to stage the prestigious event. The announcement came just days before a high-level Indian delegation was set to visit the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to further India’s case.
India, with strong backing from both the central government and the Gujarat state authorities, had emerged as one of the leading contenders in the race to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Over the past year, officials from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Union Sports Ministry had been actively engaged in discussions under the IOC’s “continuous dialogue” phase.
India had yet to officially nominate a host city, but the involvement of top Gujarat officials in the bid process made it clear that Ahmedabad would be central to the proposal. Two massive sports infrastructure projects are already underway in the state: the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Sports Enclave in Motera and the Karai Sports Hub on the riverfront. These developments were being designed to match international standards and support a full-scale Olympic event.
However, the IOC’s decision to halt the selection process has introduced uncertainty into what had been a fast-developing and strategic campaign by India.
Kirsty Coventry, who recently assumed office as the new IOC President, chaired her first Executive Board meeting and announced the formation of a working group to “review how future hosts are selected and when.” This review was prompted by significant concerns among the IOC’s 107 members over the current host selection system, which was established in 2019.
Under the current process, a Future Host Commission engages in non-binding dialogues with interested countries instead of traditional IOC member voting. While the system was intended to reduce excessive lobbying and bidding costs, many IOC members now view it as opaque and lacking inclusiveness.
Notably, there was discontent regarding how cities were selected with widely varying timelines—Brisbane was awarded the 2032 Summer Olympics 11 years in advance, whereas the French Alps were granted just six years for the 2030 Winter Games. These inconsistencies and the challenges faced by already-selected host cities—especially Brisbane—triggered a broader reevaluation of the selection process.
Despite the pause, the Indian delegation’s scheduled visit from June 30 to July 2 will proceed as planned. The team includes PT Usha (IOA President), Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Union Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, and several senior officials from the Gujarat government. This visit, although now devoid of immediate decision-making value, will still offer India the chance to showcase its commitment and preparation to IOC officials.
India’s pitch for the Olympics had focused not only on infrastructure and logistics but also on symbolic themes of peace, cultural diversity, and regional impact. Last October, PT Usha formally communicated India’s intent to host the Games in “Bharat (India),” with assistance from international experts and consultants.
While the process is paused, it is not cancelled. The working group formed by the IOC is expected to revisit the selection rules and timeline, which may eventually result in a more transparent and participatory method of selecting future Olympic hosts. This pause may allow India to further strengthen its proposal, fine-tune infrastructural projects, and build greater international consensus.
The current situation may delay timelines, but it doesn’t spell the end for India’s Olympic dream. On the contrary, it may give the country additional time to optimize preparations, secure broader IOC support, and ensure that Ahmedabad’s infrastructure development aligns perfectly with future IOC expectations.
India is one among several nations—alongside Qatar, Indonesia, Turkey, and Germany—that had entered the dialogue phase for 2036. Given the growing interest in the event and geopolitical sensitivities, the IOC is under pressure to create a fair and consistent host selection mechanism.
For India, the path forward includes patience, persistence, and continued engagement.
The IOC paused the process to review its current host selection model, citing lack of transparency and inconsistent timelines in awarding recent Olympics. A working group will now reevaluate how and when future hosts are chosen.
The pause delays India’s campaign to host the 2036 Games but does not end it. India’s preparations continue, and the delegation’s visit to Lausanne will go ahead to maintain momentum and IOC engagement.
Although not officially confirmed, Ahmedabad is widely expected to be India’s primary host city, supported by the Gujarat government’s ongoing infrastructure developments, including two major sports hubs.
The eight-member team includes IOA President PT Usha, Gujarat’s Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Union Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, and top Gujarat state officials, all set to meet IOC leaders in Lausanne.
A new IOC working group will analyze and propose changes to the host selection process. Once a revised framework is in place, the bidding process will resume with clearer timelines and rules for all contenders.
