Latest news with #2036Games
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Positive on India hosting 2036 Olympics, but prediction premature: IOA CEO
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is "very positive" about the country getting the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics but feels that it's "premature" to predict anything right now as more countries are joining the race. Qatar is the latest country to reveal that it has begun a "dialogue process" with the Future Host Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the hosting rights of the 2036 Games, the first step in a lengthy process before a host country is selected. "We would like to believe that we are in a very positive state. But still it will be premature to say (who will get the hosting rights) because there are still countries which are jumping in. So that's where we are," IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer said at a press conference here on Thursday. India, which submitted its 'Expression of Interest' last year, is one step ahead as it is in the 'Continuous Dialogue Process' with the Future Host Commission (FHC) of the IOC. The next step is the 'Targetted Dialogue Process' before the FHC recommends a preferred host country to the IOC Congress. He said that the host country for the 2036 Olympics is likely to be known only after two years as the IOC itself has announced a "pause" on the whole process. "We are in a stage of continuous dialogue currently with the IOC. It's pause and reflect for the IOC right now. They just got a new leader (president) who is driving some changes within the IOC. "In next couple of years we will really get to know which direction it is going," said Iyer whose appointment was ratified by the IOA executive council after more than a year due to a bitter feud between Usha and majority of the EC members. An IOA delegation visited Lausanne last month to push for the 2036 Olympic bid. The delegation included IOA president PT Usha, sports secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi among others. Asked about the visit, Iyer said, "It was a very positive meeting (with IOC officials). It was attended by the IOC top brass. And the follow-up would be at some point in time, they (IOC officials) would look at coming down to India very soon. "The way continuous dialogue works currently, it's almost like they (IOC) were holding a workshop for us. It is not that we would present and say this is the city and this is how we do it. "They (IOC) have held a workshop for us. It's a lot on sustainability, on athlete-centric work that you are going to be doing. It's a lot on the legacy that you are going to leave. So it need not just be one city." 2030 CWG bid decision to be known in November"It's an ongoing process. The Commonwealth sports representatives, the team management and the sports management, they will be going around all the prospective hosts before the General Assembly decides the host in the last week of November in Glasgow," said IOA executive member Harpal Singh. India's chances of getting the 2030 CWG has improved after Canada pulled out of the bidding race. "The host selection will be based on sustainability, athletic centre, flexibility in terms of regional appeal, there needs to be flexibility in terms of the host nations taken. "We are hopeful and optimistic that the 2030 Games will come to India." IOA Athletes Commission to launch ambitious 'India Plays' programme IOA Athletes Commission vice-chairman Sharath Kamal announced the launching of 'India Plays' programme on August 29, the National Sports Day, aiming to get 100 million people playing a particular sport or any activity. "We can clearly see that India is growing more into the direction of building athlete-centric programmes. We would launch a campaign called 'India Plays' which will try to get 100 million people playing a particular sport or any activity on the 29th of August which happens to be our national sports day," said the celebrated former table tennis player. "We'll try and run this campaign through the Athletes Commission of the IOA where we'll have the other Olympians and elite athletes as ambassadors and mobilisers to reach out to the various state Olympic associations and national sports federations, ministry of youth affairs and sports, fit India movements and various other organizations. "We need to have more number of people playing sport and having sport as a way of life. Of course, we all want the medals, Olympic medals and trying to excel at international level but for us as athletes I think this will be a strong movement which will make a sport a part of life, a way of life in every citizen of India." He also said that the IOA Athletes Commission will establish a strong communication channel for active and retired athletes across all sports. "We will develop structures for mental health support, career transition guidance and training access beyond the competitive years and empowerment and leadership programmes where we try and create mentorship programmes and athlete led workshops to help build leadership programmes for all the athletes.
Reuters
7 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
India sets house in order, targets doping menace to boost 2036 bid
NEW DELHI, July 24 (Reuters) - The usually fractious Indian Olympic Association (IOA) put on a united front and declared a war against doping on Thursday to boost the country's bid to host the 2036 Games in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. The world's most populous nation, which staged the 2010 Commonwealth Games in its capital New Delhi, has confirmed bidding for the 2036 edition of "the greatest show on earth". Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile are also bidding for the 2036 Olympics, and Qatar on Tuesday became the latest country to show interest in hosting the Games. An Indian delegation visited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne this month and media reports said the IOA was told to put its house in order and address the threat of doping. IOA President P.T. Usha spoke to media on Thursday, accompanied by several executive council members, who discussed a no-confidence motion to oust her last year. "What came out (in the media) was probably exaggerated," executive council member Harpal Singh told reporters. "In the interest of the nation, we have resolved all those minor differences within ourselves. "I assure you that going forward, we will strongly stand united and bid for the 2036 Olympic Games." The IOA has decided to address the country's dismal doping record in recent years. Rohit Rajpal, another IOA executive council member, said India had made "significant strides" but an "organised racket" stood in the way of cleaning up sports. "All these areas are going to be attacked by all of us in a very aggressive manner, and hopefully we'll have a free-and-fair sport," Rajpal said after announcing a new anti-doping education programme. IOA chief executive Raghuram Iyer was upbeat about India's chances of getting the 2036 Games. "We are in the stage of continuous dialogue with the IOC," said Iyer. "It's a lot about sustainability, athlete-centric work and the legacy that you're going to leave." With new IOC President Kirsty Coventry pausing the venue selection process, Iyer is expecting more countries to enter the race to host the 2036 Games. "I think in the next couple of years is when we will really get to know which direction it is going to," Iyer said. "It was a very positive meeting with the IOC top brass. The follow-up would be, at some point in time, they would look at coming down to India very soon." India is also bidding to host the Commonwealth Games again in 2030.
The Star
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Olympics-India sets house in order, targets doping menace to boost 2036 bid
FILE PHOTO: Olympic rings are pictured outside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of newly elected President Kirsty Coventry first Executive Board meeting at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The usually fractious Indian Olympic Association (IOA) put on a united front and declared a war against doping on Thursday to boost the country's bid to host the 2036 Games in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. The world's most populous nation, which staged the 2010 Commonwealth Games in its capital New Delhi, has confirmed bidding for the 2036 edition of "the greatest show on earth". Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile are also bidding for the 2036 Olympics, and Qatar on Tuesday became the latest country to show interest in hosting the Games. An Indian delegation visited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne this month and media reports said the IOA was told to put its house in order and address the threat of doping. IOA President P.T. Usha spoke to media on Thursday, accompanied by several executive council members, who discussed a no-confidence motion to oust her last year. "What came out (in the media) was probably exaggerated," executive council member Harpal Singh told reporters. "In the interest of the nation, we have resolved all those minor differences within ourselves. "I assure you that going forward, we will strongly stand united and bid for the 2036 Olympic Games." The IOA has decided to address the country's dismal doping record in recent years. Rohit Rajpal, another IOA executive council member, said India had made "significant strides" but an "organised racket" stood in the way of cleaning up sports. "All these areas are going to be attacked by all of us in a very aggressive manner, and hopefully we'll have a free-and-fair sport," Rajpal said after announcing a new anti-doping education programme. IOA chief executive Raghuram Iyer was upbeat about India's chances of getting the 2036 Games. "We are in the stage of continuous dialogue with the IOC," said Iyer. "It's a lot about sustainability, athlete-centric work and the legacy that you're going to leave." With new IOC President Kirsty Coventry pausing the venue selection process, Iyer is expecting more countries to enter the race to host the 2036 Games. "I think in the next couple of years is when we will really get to know which direction it is going to," Iyer said. "It was a very positive meeting with the IOC top brass. The follow-up would be, at some point in time, they would look at coming down to India very soon." India is also bidding to host the Commonwealth Games again in 2030. (Editing by Ed Osmond)
CNA
7 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
India sets house in order, targets doping menace to boost 2036 bid
NEW DELHI :The usually fractious Indian Olympic Association (IOA) put on a united front and declared a war against doping on Thursday to boost the country's bid to host the 2036 Games in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. The world's most populous nation, which staged the 2010 Commonwealth Games in its capital New Delhi, has confirmed bidding for the 2036 edition of "the greatest show on earth". Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile are also bidding for the 2036 Olympics, and Qatar on Tuesday became the latest country to show interest in hosting the Games. An Indian delegation visited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne this month and media reports said the IOA was told to put its house in order and address the threat of doping. IOA President P.T. Usha spoke to media on Thursday, accompanied by several executive council members, who discussed a no-confidence motion to oust her last year. "What came out (in the media) was probably exaggerated," executive council member Harpal Singh told reporters. "In the interest of the nation, we have resolved all those minor differences within ourselves. "I assure you that going forward, we will strongly stand united and bid for the 2036 Olympic Games." The IOA has decided to address the country's dismal doping record in recent years. Rohit Rajpal, another IOA executive council member, said India had made "significant strides" but an "organised racket" stood in the way of cleaning up sports. "All these areas are going to be attacked by all of us in a very aggressive manner, and hopefully we'll have a free-and-fair sport," Rajpal said after announcing a new anti-doping education programme. IOA chief executive Raghuram Iyer was upbeat about India's chances of getting the 2036 Games. "We are in the stage of continuous dialogue with the IOC," said Iyer. "It's a lot about sustainability, athlete-centric work and the legacy that you're going to leave." With new IOC President Kirsty Coventry pausing the venue selection process, Iyer is expecting more countries to enter the race to host the 2036 Games. "I think in the next couple of years is when we will really get to know which direction it is going to," Iyer said. "It was a very positive meeting with the IOC top brass. The follow-up would be, at some point in time, they would look at coming down to India very soon." India is also bidding to host the Commonwealth Games again in 2030.
NDTV
7 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
IOA Ends Feud Over CEO, Sets Up Anti-Doping Panel After IOC Flags Cases
Ending a lengthy feud, the Indian Olympic Association's Executive Council on Thursday ratified the appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer and set up a panel to tackle doping after India's poor record was flagged by the IOC during a national delegation's visit to push for the 2036 Olympic bid. The EC members had refused to ratify Iyer's appointment made by President P T Usha in January 2024, the bone of contention being his Rs 20 lakh per month salary along with other perks. However, the differences on this matter were resolved following Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's intervention, paving the way for Iyer's formal appointment. The seven-member anti-doping panel will be headed by former tennis player Rohit Rajpal and include Aparna Popat and sports medicine expert Dr PSM Chandran among others. "The IOC (International Olympic Committee) mentioned high doping cases in India when IOA (delegation) visited Lausanne," said Iyer, who was present during a joint press conference by the IOA EC members and Usha. The IOA delegation to Lausanne last month included sports secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, Usha and Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi among others. India is bidding to host the 2036 Games in Ahmedabad. India had last month topped the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2023 testing figures among countries which analysed 5,000 or more samples with a high positivity rate of 3.8 per cent for banned substances. Sports Bill welcome After opposing it for a considerable time, the new sports bill, which was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, was finally welcomed by the IOA. "The IOC was concerned about two-three issues but the ministry consulted the world body and other international federations and then the bill was cleared," Usha said. The bill, once it becomes an act, will lead to the institution of a National Sports Board that will be authorised to grant recognition to national federations and regulate their funding as well. "New National Sports Bill should not be construed as intervention from Sports ministry but as cooperation and coordination with the stakeholders including IOA and NSFs (National Sports Federations)," said IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey. "The new bill was very clear that whenever there is conflict in any provision with the statutes of international federations, those of latter will prevail," added Chaubey, who is also the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
