India wants to host the 2036 Olympics, and Ahmedabad is the city in the spotlight. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) just gave us a cold, hard message: clean up your house first.
Earlier this week, an Indian delegation visited Lausanne, Switzerland, to pitch the dream of hosting the Games. It was led by Gujarat’s Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi and IOA president PT Usha. But the meeting didn’t exactly end on a high note.
Instead of cheering for India’s vision, the IOC flagged big problems—and they weren’t soft about it.
The IOC’s Warning: Shape Up or Sit Out
The IOC told India in clear words: “You can’t move ahead unless you fix your mess.” That mess includes:
- Doping violations (India has the worst rate among major sporting nations, says the WADA 2023 report).
- Internal fights in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
- No athlete welfare grants from IOC to India for 10 months due to governance issues.
- And a poor showing at the Paris Olympics—ranked 71st with just 6 medals and no gold.
An official who attended the meeting said bluntly, “This is the starting point. No serious talks about hosting can happen unless the IOA gets its house in order.”
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Where’s the Leadership?
While PT Usha stayed silent after the meeting, the Indian delegation released a vague statement. It spoke of “exploring opportunities” but didn’t even mention 2036. That silence speaks louder than words.
India’s sports leadership has failed to show urgency or unity. The IOA is tangled in its own politics. And when the world is watching, that lack of clarity makes us look unprepared.
The dream of hosting the 2036 Olympics is a bold one. It’s about national pride. It’s about putting India on the global map as a sports power. But dreams come with responsibility.
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