Mumbai likely to host next IOC Session in 2023

The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended Mumbai as the venue to hold the 2023 IOC session after its evaluation commission was impressed by the facilities at the Jio World Centre, the likely venue for the event.

“We have chosen India because it is the second most populous nation in the world, with a very young population and a huge potential for Olympic sport,” President Thomas Bach was quoted in an IOC statement.

“We want to encourage and support the National Olympic Committee of India and all the National Federations to promote and strengthen Olympic sport in the country.”

The recommendation will be passed at the 136th IOC session, set to be held before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in July.

The IOC hoped to show its appreciation for India’s contribution to the Olympics through this gesture.

“The year 2023 will be significant for India as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. Hosting the IOC Session in Mumbai would put the Olympic Movement at the heart of those celebrations,” the IOC statement added.

First step towards India hosting the Olympics

IOC member Nita Ambani had revealed a few weeks back that she dreamt of India hosting the Olympics in the future and the first step towards that would be to hold an IOC session in the country and probably the Youth Olympics too.

“If we get the Youth Olympics to India, we can change the lives of many children. That will be our gateway to the Summer Olympics. It’s a win-win for the Olympics and for India,” she had told India Today.

If the recommendation goes through, it will be the first time since 1983 that an IOC session will be held in the country. Back then, it was New Delhi which had played host.

India is also set to host the 2022 Commonwealth shooting and archery championships in Chandigarh. It would want to put up a seamless act as host to prove its feasibility of hosting the Olympics in the future.