Last year during the International Olympic Committee’s Annual Session in Mumbai, India made its bid official with prime minister Narendra Modi saying that they were “very excited to organise an Olympics” and would “explore all options” to make such an event possible. “Indians are not just sports lovers, but we also live it,” Modi proclaimed. “India will leave no stone unturned in the preparation for the successful organisation of the Olympics in 2036, this is the dream of the 140 crore (1.4 billion) Indians. I am sure India will get constant support from IOC.”

Although a city or region weren’t specified by Modi, Ahmedabad, which boasts the largest stadium in the world with a capacity of 132,000 and is named after the Indian prime minister, is considered to be the most likely contender as the main host metropolis for the country’s bid. Many voices have long pointed to India's potential and the imposing sports complex as the IOC’s venue of choice.

If the holding of the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai at the end of 2023 was a sign, India took it to heart and made an effort during the Paris Games to campaign for the bid, which reached its high point with the inclusion of cricket as one of the five new Olympic sports from Los Angeles 2028.

Going into the 2024 Olympics, the plan by India’s sports officials was to "advocate strongly" to enhance the country's prospects of hosting the 2036 edition, also with the goal of promoting indigenous disciplines such as yoga, kho kho, and kabaddi if the bid indeed prospers. "We are way ahead in preparing for the Olympic bid which will take place after Paris. But we will have to do a lot of lobbying with the IOC during the Paris Games and we are completely prepared," officials underlined.

Back in June, the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) of India’s Sports Authority presented a comprehensive report outlining the necessary steps for a successful outcome to the newly appointed sports minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, and also highlighted three other sports, namely chess, T20 cricket, and squash, which could potentially be included in the 2036 programme.

The IOC is by no means oblivious to the commercial potential of 1.4 billion people living in the Asian country and admitted as much during its Wednesday briefing while addressing the will to target luxury brands for prominent sponsorship opportunities, as it has throughout the Paris Games. "It's really the direction we want to go in," said Anne-Sophie Voumard, its managing director for television and marketing.

While on the subject, Voumard revealed to reporters that the IOC was still searching for its first premium sponsor from India. “It’s one of the largest countries and economies in the world and has a lot of potential, also commercially. We would love to welcome a first new top sponsor from India. I'm sure that this is going to happen very soon," she forecasted. The decision is likely to come after the IOC elects a new president next year and current boss Thomas Bach’s term comes to an end.

Interest in hosting the Olympics had declined dramatically in recent editions with only one bid for each of the 2024 and 2028 Summer Games from Paris and Los Angeles, respectively. While the 2032 Games have already been awarded to Brisbane, Australia, the 2036 race remains wide open with an increased numbers of bidders expressing interest. "We have never been in such a favourable position. We have never seen such a high level of interest in hosting the Olympic Games," Bach acknowledges in April.

Besides India, other “non-traditional countries” like Indonesia, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also keen on holding the 2036 Games.