India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics has come to a standstill due to internal conflicts within the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), specifically over the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as Chief Executive Officer. Several IOA members oppose his appointment, citing his high salary of approximately Rs 3 crore and accusing IOA president PT Usha of making arbitrary decisions.
In October 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly declared India’s intent to host the 2036 Olympics during a formal event with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and other delegates. However, talks between Indian sports administrators and the IOC have reportedly “completely stalled” since the Paris Olympics, largely due to the unresolved governance issues within the IOA.
PT Usha, in a letter dated October 3, expressed concerns about the ongoing infighting, calling for a Special General Meeting on October 25 to address the situation. She warned that the delays in ratifying the CEO appointment could significantly impact India’s ambitions to host the Games.
The IOA’s Executive Council has not yet approved Iyer’s appointment, arguing that the decision was made without proper consultation. This has led to several key meetings, including one in September, ending without resolution.
An IOC statement acknowledged the situation, stating that the IOA must urgently resolve its governance issues, but did not provide further comments. Senior IOA officials admitted that the internal discord has undermined India’s bid for the Olympics.
While India has yet to officially announce a host city, the Gujarat government has begun infrastructure projects worth Rs 6,000 crore in Ahmedabad, preparing it as a potential venue. Meanwhile, other countries like Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, and Indonesia have also expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Games.
India’s delegation attended the Paris Olympics to study organizational aspects and further lobby for hosting rights, but since then, no significant progress has been made due to the internal turmoil.
