India’s 2036 Olympic Bid Faces Setback as IOC Halts Host Selection Process

 India’s 2036 Olympic Bid Faces Setback as IOC Halts Host Selection Process

LAUSANNE — India’s ambitious push to host the 2036 Olympic Games has encountered an unexpected obstacle after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced a pause in the selection process for future Olympic hosts.

The decision was made during a meeting of the IOC Executive Board earlier this week, and comes just days ahead of a planned visit by a high-level Indian delegation to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne. The group — which includes officials from the Union and Gujarat governments, as well as the Indian Olympic Association — was set to present India’s case for hosting the Games, with Ahmedabad being projected as a potential host city.

Newly appointed IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who took office on Monday, said the meeting with the Indian delegation would still proceed as scheduled from June 30 to July 2. However, she confirmed the IOC is forming a working group to “review how future hosts are selected and when,” signaling a potential overhaul of the current bidding process.

India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics has been one of the most active and vocal campaigns in recent years, with strong political backing and visible infrastructure development in Gujarat aimed at showcasing readiness. The announcement of a temporary freeze, however, is seen as a setback in momentum.

While the IOC has not ruled out any current contenders, the pause injects uncertainty into what has already been a competitive and complex process. For India, which has never hosted an Olympic Games, the move delays what many saw as a crucial window to make a strong impression.

Despite the pause, officials say India remains committed to its Olympic dream. “The delegation will go ahead with its meetings and presentations,” said a source familiar with the planning. “We hope to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate India’s seriousness and long-term commitment to the Olympic movement.”

The IOC has not given a timeline for when the host selection process for the 2036 Games might resume.