As reported by The Indian Express, the proposal has been conveyed to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has taken proactive measures by reaching out to the OCA earlier this month.
The proposal was also a topic of discussion during the OCA Executive Board meeting in Sanya, China. As part of this initiative, the OCA plans to deploy an evaluation team to review India’s infrastructure capabilities.
IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer confirmed the news, stating, “We are keen on bringing the Asian Games to India. We are in contact with the OCA and have reached out to them to express our interest. Ongoing dialogue with the OCA will continue.”
Timeline and hosting opportunities
The upcoming Asian Games have already been assigned to different cities. Aichi-Nagoya will host this year’s edition, with Doha slated for 2030 and Riyadh for 2034. This makes 2038 the next available opportunity for hosting, thereby allowing new contenders like India to emerge.
India’s hosting history
India has previously hosted the Asian Games twice, both occasions in New Delhi. The first was the inaugural edition in 1951, followed by the 1982 Asian Games. These events significantly contributed to the development of sports infrastructure in the nation at that time.
While no official host city has been declared, reports indicate that Ahmedabad may be a strong candidate. The city is already gearing up to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is pivotal to India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics. In alignment with these ambitions, the Gujarat government is investing in sports facilities and infrastructure in and around the city.
Competition for hosting rights
India is not the sole nation vying to host the 2038 Asian Games. Mongolia and South Korea are also anticipated to compete for the hosting rights. The final decision will hinge on several factors, including infrastructure readiness, organizational capability, and evaluations from the OCA team.
