India's Ambitious Bid to Host the 2036 Olympic Games | 28 Oct 2023

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the Indian Prime Minister announced India's intention to host the Olympic Games, ideally in 2036 during the opening ceremony of the 141^st International Olympic Committee session in Mumbai.

• China, South Korea, and Japan are the only Asian countries to have hosted the Olympics, with Japan having hosted the games in both 1964 and 2020.

What is the Procedure of Selecting a Host City for Olympics?

• Traditional System:
  • Cities submit a letter of interest to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It involved a lengthy multi-year, multi-step evaluation process.
  • Hosts were selected seven years in advance.
  • Often led to excessive spending, debt, corruption, and scandals.
• New Approach: Olympic Agenda 2020:
  • In 2013, Thomas Bach became the IOC president and introduced the Olympic Agenda 2020, a blueprint for the Olympic Movement's future.
  • In 2014, the agenda was approved during the IOC session. A key aspect was the 'new norm' for selecting host cities, which was officially adopted in 2019 during the IOC session in Lausanne, Switzerland.
    • It replaced the seven-year rule for selecting hosts with greater flexibility.
    • Emphasized flexibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness with the motto "The Games adapt to the region, the region does not adapt to the Games."
    • It consists of two stages: continuous dialogue and targeted dialogue.
      • Continuous dialogue allows flexible master plans without specific deadlines.
      • Targeted dialogue lasts up to 12 months, involving detailed discussions, guarantees, and an advisory report.

What are the Significant Aspects Associated with the Olympics?

• About:
  • The Olympics are an international sporting event that takes place every four years.
    • The goals of the Olympics are to cultivate human beings through sport and contribute to world peace
  • The Olympics include: Summer Games, Winter Games, Youth Olympics Games.
• History and Origin:
  • Olympics trace their roots back around 3,000 years to Ancient Greece's Peloponnese region.
  • While the precise starting date remains uncertain, 776 BC is a commonly mentioned year in historical records.
    • The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece in 1896 based on the plan of Pierre de Coubertin.
• Olympic Rings:
  • The Olympic symbol consists of five interlocking rings of different colors (blue, yellow, black, green, and red) on a white background.
    • These rings represent the five continents of the world and symbolize the unity and diversity of nations through sports.

• Upcoming Events:
  • Summer Olympics 2024: Paris, France
  • Winter Olympics 2026: Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
  • Summer Olympics 2028: Los Angeles, USA
  • Summer Olympics 2032: Brisbane, Australia