After a long period of 37 years, the IOC has chosen India’s name to be put before its members, suggesting Mumbai should host the IOC session in 2023. The decision will be finalised during the 136th IOC session, slated to be held along with the 2020 Summer Olympics in July in Tokyo, Japan.
“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. 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", said Thomas Bach, IOC President.
The IOC's Session Evaluation Commission made a trip to India in October last year and they chalked down the "Jio World Centre" as a plausible venue, Olympic.org said in a later post.
The richest man in Asia, Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani inaugrated their Jio World Centre in Mumbai's posh Bandra Kurla Complex. The aim was to facilitate a world-class, multi-use facility capable of offering the best global convention setting and services in the country.
The last time India hosted an IOC session was way back in 1983. At the time, the session was held in the national capital, Delhi.
In 2023, India will be celebrating the 76th anniversary of its independence.
The “Olympic Movement” aims to contribute towards building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sports. The IOC, which is an independent international body of 101 members established back in 1894, is the supreme authority monitoring the movement.