The President of the New International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry announced a break and review of the process of choosing an Olympic host city. This step comes when India appears among the leading candidates in the overcrowded field of applicants for the Summer Olympics 2036. The decision also represents a clear departure from the strictly controlled approach of its predecessor Thomas Bach.
Coventry explained that the decision was led by two main reasons. First, members of IOC wanted to be more involved in the process. And secondly, there was a significant discussion of timing, when the next host should be awarded.
“Members of IOC have been a great support to make a pause, and review the future election process of the host and set up a working group to look at it,” said Coventry, 41, after the first meeting of the Executive Board in Lausanne on Thursday, June 26.
The review is a significant shift from Bach’s strategy that has been designed to avoid expensive offer campaigns, and instead prefers the scenes behind the scenes with preferred candidates. This approach led to the fact that Brisbane was quickly watched as a host for games 2032 in a surprising selection, made 11 years in advance – bypassing traditional offers and attacked voices, but drew criticism from IOC members who felt excluded from the process.
Coventers said that the change reflects the growing demand between MOV members for greater integration and transparency. Its Presidency began at the beginning of this week with closed doors, including more than 70 IOC members in Lausanne, according to the AP press agency.
Will it affect the Indian offer?
India, whose offer for 2036 was headed by IoC Nita Ambani and was strongly supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modim, will continue his planned reach. The land has submitted and A letter about the IOC intention in October last year And next week he sends a delegation of seniors to Lausanne.
“We want all parties involved to be part of this pause and to think and this review,” Coventry said.
“I am aware of the delegation that comes next weekend – it will continue. It could be the first interested party to ask a few questions and better understand from them.”
“There will be no specific pause, but only the whole process,” she said.
Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly underlined Indian Olympic aspirations that have noticed the wider national importance of bringing games to a country that has never driven them.
“We are trying to host the rights to the Olympics 2036, it will take Indian sports to new heights,” he said at the beginning of this year. “Wherever the Olympics comes, all industries get. Creates a better device for athletes.”
Although the dynamics of India are intact, the overall framework for the selection of the host city is now reviewed.
Coventry stressed that the recent host selections – including Los Angeles (2028), Brisbane (2032) and the French Alps (2030 winter games) – would serve as case studies to inform about future decisions. In particular, the French Alps were awarded 2030 games only last year, which is a much shorter delivery time compared to the early selection of Brisbane.
“So there was a lot of discussion when it was a good time to choose a future host. And also how we should choose a future host,” she said.
“We have to make sure we have more members of the members and we will also look at the timing. When is the best time when the best time is when it is the most effective time (deciding on the Olympic host). What is the most effective way we will not overload any of the parties,” she added.
India last organized an important event in 2010 with more sports – The Commonwealth Games in Nový Dilli.
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Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
June 26, 2025
