India's Olympic Dream Prolonged As IOC Chief Hits 'Pause And Reflect' On Venue Decision

Last Updated:June 26, 2025, 22:28 IST

India submitted an LOI to bring the 2036 edition of the quadrennial spectacle home last year, but any decision on the same will have to wait a bit longer.

Olympics Representational Image. (PTI Photo)

Newly elected IOC Chief Kirsty Coventry called for a pause on decisions pertaining to the hosting rights for the future Olympic Games to prolong India’s dream of hosting the 2036.

India submitted an LOI to bring the 2036 edition of the quadrennial spectacle home last year, and a delegation representing the tricolour is scheduled to travel to Lausanne, Switzerland, for informal talks apropos to the same issue next month.

“There was an overwhelming support from the IOC members for a pause to be done and a review of the future host election process and we will be setting up a working group to look into this," the 41-year-old Zimbabwean said after chairing her maiden executive board meeting in Lausanne.

“This is for two main reasons. Firstly, members want to be engaged more in the process and secondly there was a very big discussion on when should the next host be awarded," he added in her opening remarks after the two-day meeting.

Coventry officially took over as the President of the International Olympic Committee on Monday as she received the golden key to the Olympic House from outgoing chief Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Zimbabwean former Olympic swimming champion, who was elected the first female chief in IOC history, was welcomed in a handover ceremony.

Coventry also added hat the executive board was of the opinion that the experience of already decided hosts, Los Angles 2028 Summer Games, Brisbane 2032 Summer Games, French Alps 2030 Winter Games, need to be assessed before ratfying future bids.

“So there was a lot of discussion on when is the appropriate time to elect a future host. And also how we should be selecting a future host," she said.

“We want all interested parties to be a part of this pause and reflect and of this review. I am aware of the delegation coming next weekend that will continue. They might be the first interested party for us to ask a couple of questions and to better understand from them.

“There is not going to be a specific pause on that but just on the entire process," the 41-year-old added.

“We need to ensure that we have more membership engagement and also look at the timing. When is the most appropriate time, when is the best time, when is the most effective time to decide an Olympic host," the former swimming champion said.

“What is the most effective way we are not going to overburden any of the stakeholders," she elucidated.

Coventry was elected as the 10th president of the IOC and the first female president in its history, following voting at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, in March this year.

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News sports India's Olympic Dream Prolonged As IOC Chief Hits 'Pause And Reflect' On Venue Decision