India will bid for 2026 Youth Olympics, 2030 Asian Games and 2032 Summer Olympics, says IOA president
The country’s intentions received the appreciation from the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Thursday announced its decision to bid for the 2026 Youth Olympics, the 2030 Asian Games and the 2032 Summer Olympics.
In a press conference, the IOA President Narinder Batra said, ‘We are bidding for three events, 2026 Youth Olympics, 2030 Asian Games and 2032 Olympics. We don’t know whether they will come to India or not. Let us see how fierce the competition is.’
Bach appreciates India’s proposal
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, who is on a two-day visit to India, said the country has the capability to host the Olympics.
‘We have taken note with great appreciation of the intention of IOA to host future Youth Olympics and Summer Olympics,’ Bach said.
‘It would be fantastic for Indian athletes to have their Olympics at their home country. It will give a boost to sports in India and develop interest in many young people to take up sports.’
However, he also advised the IOA to wait for the bidding process to start.
‘But it’s not the time to discuss in detail about future candidates as no procedure is currently open neither for Olympic Games nor for Youth Olympics. The next available slot for Youth Olympics is 2026 but we are even yet to decide on 2022 edition host city, the process is underway. Only after we finalize 2022 Youth Olympics hosts, we will start the procedure for 2026,’ said Bach.
Quite too early
A decision on the 2032 Summer Olympics host city will be taken in 2025, with the bidding process expected to start some time before that.
‘There is a lot of time left till we open bidding procedure for 2032 Olympics. We have to wait till that,’ said Bach.
Besides India, Germany and Australia have expressed their intentions to bid for the event, with more countries expected to join the fray later on.
Last year, Paris secured the right to host the 2024 Games, after it emerged that Los Angeles, its only remaining rival, reached an agreement with the IOC to accept to host the 2028 Olympics.