The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is poised to hold its 141st Annual Session in Mumbai from October 15 to 17, marking a significant moment in India’s sporting history. This event returns to India after over four decades, with the last session hosted in New Delhi in 1983. IOC President Thomas Bach’s arrival in Mumbai on October 10 and meetings with key figures such as Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Reliance Foundation Founder Chairperson Nita Ambani underscore the importance of this gathering.
Nita Ambani played a pivotal role in bringing the IOC Session to Mumbai and expressed her gratitude to the IOC for entrusting India with this honor. She emphasized that this event is a significant development for India’s Olympic aspirations and heralds a new era for Indian sports. This session is occurring at a time when Indian sports are considered to be “coming of age.” India’s impressive performance at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, where they secured seven medals, including an individual gold, highlighted the nation’s growing presence on the international stage. Furthermore, India recently achieved its biggest medal haul at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
The IOC Session in Mumbai provides an ideal opportunity for India to present itself as a contender to host the Summer Olympics, a historic first for the nation. Discussions are already underway, with great interest in bringing the Games to India. IOC Chief Bach has acknowledged the country’s serious considerations and expressed interest in seeing the project take shape.
One of the crucial decisions to be made during the IOC Session is the inclusion of new sports proposed by the organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Of particular significance is the return of cricket to the Summer Olympics, which hasn’t featured in the event since Paris 1900. With India being a cricketing powerhouse and currently hosting the World Cup, cricket’s return to the Olympics seems closer than ever. The Indian cricket teams, both men and women, are global superstars, and their participation in the Olympics could result in additional medals for the country. As the 141st IOC Session unfolds in Mumbai, the eyes of the sporting world will be on India as it takes center stage in the Olympic Movement.
