IOC chief shares his vision for Indian Olympic Movement

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach met with key stakeholders of the Indian Olympic movement here in the national capital on Thursday.

The delegation engaged with newly-elected members of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Executive Board, heads of National Sports Federations, State Olympic Associations during their visit to New Delhi.

The visit comes as a boost in India's endeavour to make a mark in the global Olympic movement.

Bach shared his vision with all the key stakeholders while acknowledging their ambition to build competence in countries like India to host multiple-discipline sporting events in the near future.

"The meeting with the Indian Olympic Association and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was a fruitful one as we agreed on devising a roadmap where the most hopeful athletes from India will be prepared for the Olympic Games 2020 with the help of international expertise which will be provided by IOC and OCA. We have offered assistance and cooperation to the WA to help in matters of sports science, coaching, sport for all, and the role of sports in the society at large," said Bach.

When asked about the possibility of India hosting Olympic Games, Bach said the IOC has already allocated the Games until 2028, so the possibility for the country hosting the event is 2032.

"We have heard of the intention of IOA to be a candidate for the future Youth Olympic Games. This time we have candidate of procedure and the way for the Youth Olympic Games 2022. Once these procedures get finalized this year then we are very open. We would appreciate it very much, then entering into discussion with IOA and with the Government of India, and with the few others to hosting the Youth Olympic Games of 2026.With regards to the Olympic Games, we have allocated the Olympic Games until 2028. Therefore, the next possibility for India is 2032."

Meanwhile, IOA President Narinder Dhruv Batra was pleased with the backing received from the IOC.

"I would like to thank Bach for his kind words of encouragement during this critical visit. To achieve our goals and vision of an Olympic movement in India, the road map suggested by the delegation will surely benefit us as we hope to achieve our vision to bid for important global events like the Asian Games and Olympics in the foreseeable future," said Batra.

After taking over as the President of IOC in 2013, Bach had visited India for the first time in 2015. This is his second trip to India as President, however, the first time that he is meeting the newly-elected Board Members of IOA.

Later in the day, Bach will watch the futuristic and fast-paced five-a-side Hockey exhibition match followed by a gala dinner hosted to meet-and-greet India's Olympic medal winners.