New Delhi:India's dream of hosting the Olympics 2036 will continue to hang in the balance till mid-2029 as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the introduction of a Strategic Dialogue phase in the host selection process for "greater transparency and cost control". The decision was taken at the global body’s 146th Session in Lausanne on Wednesday.
The assembly voted in favour of the move, which was put forward by IOC Future Host Commission chair and former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Potential hosts wanted more clarity. "All stakeholders want more transparency," Grabar-Kitrovic said, adding the goal is to announce the 2036 host by mid-2029.
"Interested parties will be shortlisted for the Strategic Dialogue in March 2027 and will have to answer the Future Host Questionnaire and provide core financial guarantees before they can be considered for the final evaluation stage, dubbed Targeted Dialogue," the IOC said later.
Strategic Dialogue in March 2027, Focused Dialogue in 2028In March 2027, there will be a Strategic Dialogue with the interested parties selected on the shortlist. The Targeted Dialogue will begin in 2028 after the Strategic Dialogue phase. Preferred host will need to update their submission. They will also need to present a full set of guarantees. "The final decision on the host of the 2036 Games will be made at the session in mid-2029," Grabar-Kitarovic said.
The extra phase has been proposed by the IOC Executive Board as part of its review of the host selection process, and has stalled future Olympic bids, including India’s bid to host the 2036 Games.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry put the bidding process on hold last year, saying it needed to have more conversations with potential hosts before moving forward. India is eyeing the 2036 Olympics and the city that is all set to host the games is Ahmedabad.
The IOC said the new framework for selection will allow candidate cities and nations to develop their bids in a more cost-effective way. The process is also expected to give governments more certainty about planning, while allowing enough time to build public support for their bids.
India sends the Letter of IntentThe Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formally submitted a Letter of Intent to the Future Host Commission, IOC on October 2024. October 1, 2024, saw the dispatch of the Letter of Intent, as India officially announced its interest in hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the country. Earlier this year in August, the IOA had held talks with the IOC’s Future Host Commission for hosting the Summer Games in 2036. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the country’s desire to host the Olympics in 2036.
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