New Delhi, 07 October (H.S.): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has unveiled India’s vision for hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, encapsulating its bid in two powerful words: “Growing Together.”

The IOA said hosting the 2036 Games in India could accelerate the pace of transformation through sport while opening a new chapter of universal reach for the Olympic Movement.

The IOA welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s announcement this week of the cities and countries that have entered the process to be considered as potential hosts for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

India’s ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, centred on Ahmedabad in Gujarat, has evolved over the past 18 months through close and constructive dialogue with the International Olympic Committee. The “Growing Together” vision is founded on the belief that 2036 could be an opportunity for India’s transformation through sport and the universal future of the Olympic Movement to advance together.

For India, hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games would represent a generational opportunity to place sport at the heart of national life. The project is intended to serve as a catalyst for broader sporting transformation, inspiring millions of young people not merely to watch sport but to participate in it. It would also focus on promoting healthier and more active communities while strengthening the role of sport in creating opportunities in education and employment.

The objective of hosting the Games in India would extend beyond staging a world-class sporting competition. It would seek to embed sport more deeply in everyday life and create a legacy reflecting India’s energy, its young population and its belief in the transformative power of sport.

For the Olympic Movement, hosting the 2036 Games in India would offer an opportunity to enter a new era of universality. It would enable the Olympic and Paralympic movements to connect more strongly with one of the world’s youngest, most dynamic and digitally connected populations. It could also expand the reach of the Olympic Games to more than one billion people while creating opportunities to bring new athletes, audiences and partners into the Olympic family.

IOA President P. T. Usha said, “We are deeply honoured that India’s vision and aspirations for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games have received recognition from the International Olympic Committee, and proud to be part of an exceptional group of potential future hosts. For us, ‘Growing Together’ is not merely a slogan, but a strong commitment to bringing together India’s energy, ambition and diversity behind a shared Olympic dream. In shaping our vision for 2036, we want to host Games that reflect the confidence of a young, dynamic and advancing India, while contributing to the ambition of the Olympic and Paralympic movements to reach new generations, new communities and new horizons around the world.”

She added, “If we move forward together with our athletes, our people, our cities and the Olympic and Paralympic movements, the possibilities are limitless. And when India moves forward, we want the world to move forward with us. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the International Olympic Committee and to presenting our ambition to the Future Host Commission for the first time at the end of November.”

Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “India’s ambition for 2036 is built around a simple idea: sport can help shape the future of our country. Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games would inspire millions of young Indians to participate in sport, strengthen healthier and more active communities, and create new opportunities for our youth in education, employment and social development.”

He added, “By hosting the Games in India, we can accelerate sporting transformation that reaches every section of our society, while also opening a new and impactful chapter for the Olympic Movement in one of the world’s most dynamic countries.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar