India’s 2036 Olympic Bid in Limbo as IOC Pauses Host Selection Process

New Delhi: India’s aspirations to host the 2036 Olympic Games may face a longer wait than anticipated, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announcing a temporary pause in its host selection process. The decision, revealed on Thursday by newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry, is aimed at reassessing the process and identifying a more “appropriate time” to elect future hosts.

In her first press conference as IOC President—marking history as the first woman and first African to lead the organisation—Coventry said that IOC members overwhelmingly supported a pause to review how future host cities are chosen. “There was overwhelming support from IOC members for a pause and a review of the future host election process. We will be setting up a working group to look into this,” said the 41-year-old Zimbabwean Olympic gold medallist.

Coventry explained that the IOC wants to ensure greater engagement from its members and a more thoughtful timeline for awarding host rights. “There was a very big discussion on when the next host should be awarded. We need to ensure more membership engagement and also look at the timing—what is the most effective time to make such decisions,” she said.

The review comes amid concerns over the short preparation time that some recent host cities have had. Coventry specifically pointed to the French Alps, which was awarded the 2030 Winter Olympics just last year, as an example of the compressed lead-up time that needs deeper evaluation. Other future hosts like Los Angeles (2028 Summer Olympics) and Brisbane (2032 Summer Olympics) will also be studied as part of the reassessment.

Despite the pause, India’s Olympic delegation, led by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, is still scheduled to visit Lausanne next month for informal discussions. “We want all interested parties to be part of this pause and review. The Indian delegation coming next weekend will continue with its visit,” Coventry confirmed. “They may be the first interested party from whom we ask questions to better understand their perspective.”

India had submitted a Letter of Intent to host the 2036 Games in October 2024, with potential host city Ahmedabad being considered. The latest development, however, means a decision may be pushed beyond the earlier expected timeline of 2026.

Coventry also acknowledged the historical underrepresentation of the Global South—including Africa, South Asia, and Latin America—in Olympic hosting. “The Global South is not really represented in host cities. My job is to ensure that policies are in place to allow anyone with the ability to host the Games to do so,” she stated.

While India’s Olympic dream remains alive, the path forward now depends on how the IOC’s working group reshapes the bidding framework. For now, the world’s second-most populous nation, eager to join the ranks of Olympic hosts, will have to wait as the IOC reconsiders its roadmap for future Games.