The Indian Olympic Association may be in the midst of a bitter power struggle between its president P.T. Usha and executive council members, but that has not stopped India from submitting a “Letter of Intent” to the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission expressing its desire to host the 2036 Olympics and Paralympic Games.

This is the first step in an ambitious plan after months of informal dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) submitted the letter on October 1.

With the submission of the “Letter of Intent”, the nation has progressed from “informal dialogue” to the “continuous dialogue” stage of the host election process.

Usha said: “Despite the internal challenges in the IOA, our commitment to hosting the 2036 Summer Games remains steadfast. The IOA remains in continuous contact with the IOC and I am optimistic that India would be viewed as a gracious host.”

At the 141st IOC session held in Mumbai in October 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had formally declared the country’s interest in bidding for the 2036 Olympics. On August 15, too, Modi spoke about the significance of preparing for the 2036 Olympics, affirming that it is a major goal for India.

A decision on the host nation will not be taken before the IOC elections next year. India will also have to face competition from nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, which are positioning themselves as strong contenders for hosting the sporting spectacle.

Securing hosting rights for the Games is a complex and scrutinised process overseen by the IOC and the Future Host Commission.

The IOC meticulously evaluates bids from potential host cities based on a range of criteria, including infrastructure, financial stability and the ability to deliver sustainable and memorable Games.

“As part of the feasibility assessment, independent sources in a wide-ranging number of areas are taken into consideration, including in human rights, through Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), and sustainability, through the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),” the IOC states on its official website.

The next phase of the process would be “targeted dialogue”, which would require the submission of an edition-specific formal bid that would be assessed by the Future Host Commission.

The process would end with a host election. India’s plan has been backed by IOC head Thomas Bach. France’s President Emmanuel Macron has also supported India’s intention to host the Games. Paris was the venue for the 2024 Olympic Games. The last time India hosted an international multi-sport extravaganza was the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

However, for the 2036 Games, Ahmedabad is being seen as a front-runner to be the host city.

India’s top sports administrators, including IOA president Usha, were at the Paris Olympics to lobby for the country. India is supposed to push for the inclusion of indigenous disciplines like yoga, kho kho and kabaddi if the bid is successful.

The Sports Authority of India’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has even presented a detailed report on the measures needed for a successful bid to new sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The cell has identified six disciplines — yoga, kho kho, kabaddi, chess, T20 cricket and squash — for inclusion in the Games if the country gets to host the quadrennial extravaganza. Cricket is set to feature at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games too.

India’s bid, however, could be affected by the internal strife in the IOA. The bitter mud-slinging game between the Usha camp and the executive council members has not gone unnoticed by the IOC.

Usha said on Tuesday: “During the IOC session last year, our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modiji put forward his vision of hosting the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games 2036. Since then we have maintained regular communication with IOC president Thomas Bach and officials of the Future Host Commission. We were also engaged in productive discussions with the IOC during the Paris Olympic Games. Our officers attended the executive and observer programme organised by the IOC during the Paris Games. These interactions and learning led to the submission of the Letter of Intent to host the 2036 Olympic Games in India in early October this year.”