New Delhi, Feb 2: Sebastian Coe, a contender for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), believes India’s candidacy to host the 2036 Olympic Games is a “strong case,” although the competition will be fierce with other countries also vying for the opportunity.
India has taken a significant step by submitting a ‘Letter of Intent’ to the IOC’s Future Host Commission, initiating a detailed dialogue following months of informal discussions with the global sports governing body.
“Naturally, given my background, I’m pleased that India is dedicated to global sports, particularly the Olympic movement. It’s wonderful to hear that,” Coe stated during an exclusive interview with a news agency.
“It will indeed be competitive. There will be multiple contenders, but the argument India can present is robust,” Coe added.
Several other nations, including Poland, Indonesia, South Africa, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, Mexico, and Egypt, have also shown interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics.
The chosen host country for the 2036 Games will be announced no earlier than 2026, and the selection will occur under the presidency of the individual elected as the new IOC chief on March 20.
Coe, whose maternal grandfather hails from Punjab, India, is viewed as the leading candidate among seven hopefuls competing to succeed Thomas Bach as IOC president.
At 68, Coe, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m, advised that India should not abandon its goal of organizing the Olympics if it does not secure the 2036 hosting rights.
“Many cities have applied and lost only to return for a future bid. When London was awarded the 2012 Games in 2005, it triumphed over Paris, and we’re all headed to the Paris Olympics in 2024,” said the British official, who currently leads World Athletics.
“Rio was another city that didn’t advance in the early stages for the 2012 bid, yet they hosted the Games shortly after Britain in 2016.
“Thus, this is by no means the end of the story. Furthermore, even the legacy from the bid process is significant.” Over 100 IOC members will cast their votes on March 20 in Costa Navarino, a Greek resort, during the 144th IOC Session from March 18 to 21.
In addition to Coe, the other six candidates include Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, David Lappartient of France, Johan Eliasch of Sweden, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr from Spain, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, and Morinari Watanabe of Japan.
Coe mentioned that South Asia, with India as its focal point, has great potential to enhance the Olympic movement by engaging more youth in sports.
“In recent years, I have observed the increasing significance of South Asia in athletics, which is central to the Olympic movement.
“If we had predicted 10 years ago that the men’s Olympic javelin title would be contested between athletes from Pakistan and India, we might have shared a smile and moved on,” he noted, referring to Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra winning gold and silver in Paris.
“That became a reality at the Paris Olympics, showcasing the vast potential in Asia. It’s crucial to recognize that Asia, particularly South Asia, has the capability to grow the Olympic movement and encourage more youth towards sport and healthier lifestyles.” However, Coe emphasized that a universal approach may not apply to all countries in Asia.
“Asia is a vast continent with huge diversity, from China and Japan to Qatar and the Philippines. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
The development programs suitable for China will differ greatly from those appropriate for Bhutan,” Coe explained when asked about his vision for Asia should he be elected IOC president.
“I had an engaging conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during my visit to India last November. We both concurred on the critical role of using sport to improve health outcomes,” Coe said, reflecting on his meeting with PM Modi.
“With young people and communities increasingly engaged in screen-based activities, which can distract from healthy lifestyles, we agreed that a sports policy could yield significant returns in health, education, social cohesion, and economic benefits.
“That’s the contribution I envision from Asia to both the Olympic movement and the health of its communities.” (PTI)
