Indian Olympic Association chief ponders bid for 2032 Olympics

Newly-elected chief of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Narinder Batra, has vowed to put India forward as a candidate to host the 2032 Olympics.

Batra, who is also president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), said that an approach would be made to the Indian government for financial backing to host major multi-discipline sporting events. Aside form the Olympics, the IOA chief said that there’s also interest in staging the 2030 Asian Games or the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“I believe in thinking big,” says Batra

The last time that India hosted a major multi-discipline sporting event was in 2010, when the South Asian country staged the Commonwealth Games, which were tainted by delays and allegations of financial mismanagement.

Batra, who was appointed on Thursday for a four-year period, spelt out his desires to host major sporting events. “I believe in thinking big. I want India to bid for big events once again, such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games, 2030 Asian Games and the 2032 Olympics. It is my personal opinion as of now, and I have to gauge what the other members of the IOA and the government think about this matter,” he said.

He also mentioned that his goal will be to improve India’s performance at international sporting events, as he continued: “It will be my goal to improve India’s medal-winning capability, and address any issues the sportspersons face in this regard”.

Batra against having bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan

After his appointment, Batra spoked about relations with India’s arch rivals Pakistan on sporting issues. "As far as multilateral events organized by the international federations are concerned, we have to play Pakistan. But I think it is not possible to play them in bilateral events unless relations between the two countries are improved,” Batra added. "Moreover, their behavior at the border will have to improve. Everybody in India is an Indian first".