New India on the Verge of Becoming a Sporting Powerhouse: Adille Sumariwalla on Mumbai IOC Session – News18

Adille Sumariwalla, president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), has expressed confidence that India will be ready to host the Olympics by 2036.

Speaking on News18’s The Right Stand show, Sumariwalla said: “We are ready. I think we are right there. I would have been happier if it was even four years earlier in 2032. But that’s already given out. India is a new India. We are absolutely on the verge of becoming a sporting powerhouse. And this is the absolutely the right time. To get the Games we have enough time to prepare. We have enough time to get our athletes ready, to get the infrastructure ready. So we are absolutely ready and raring to bid for the Games.”

Adille Sumariwalla, who is also the vice-president of Indian Olympic Association, lauded IOC member Nita Ambani for her work towards championing the Olympic movement in India.

“I think it you need all sorts of people. You need spokespersons, you need corporate support. You need government support. And then, when all of this comes together, that is what is a winning combination. And if you see our results at the Asian Games, it’s absolutely because of the government support to the federations and athletes. We all come together to make a Team India and that is what we did at the Asian Games.”

India shined at the Asian Games, winning a historic 107 medals at the 19th edition in Hangzhou, following up the record-breaking performance at the Tokyo Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) 141st session will be held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai on October 14, the second time India is hosting the prestigious gathering. The last IOC Session hosted by India was in 1983 in Delhi. The session serves as a key meeting of the members of the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC session is the supreme decision-making body of the Olympic movement. It discusses and decides on the key activities of the global Olympics movement, including adoption or amendment of the Olympic Charter, election of IOC members and office-bearers and election of the host city of Olympics.

The IOC session currently has 99 voting and 43 honorary members. More than 600 members of the sporting world’s elite are expected to be in Mumbai, as well as global media from about 100 nations, representing over 50 sports.

The Mumbai session will be a landmark moment for Indian sport and will firmly establish India on the global sporting map, opening up multiple opportunities in organising sporting events, world-class training infrastructure, nurturing talent and enriching the lives of millions of Indian sportspeople. It will also be a significant stepping-stone towards India’s aspirations of hosting the Youth Olympics and the Olympic Games in the future.