India’s 2036 Olympic bid receives ECB support: Chief Executive Richard Gould cites 2030 CWG in Ahmedabad as ideal prep originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- ECB backs India’s 2036 Olympic bid, cites 2030 CWG preparation.
- Mixed disability cricket format gaining traction, eyeing Olympic future.
- IOC’s revised process to finalise 2036 host nation by 2029.
ECB chief Richard Gould backs India’s push for 2036 Olympic hosting rights
England and Wales Cricket Board Chief Executive Richard Gould has confirmed the ECB’s full support for India’s potential bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, and framed the country’s ambitions as a natural extension of cricket’s expanding global footprint.
According to Dainik Jagran, Gould described cricket’s comeback at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a significant opportunity for the sport’s growth, praising the efforts of ICC Chairman Jay Shah and the wider governing body in making it happen.
While speaking about India’s Olympic hosting aspirations, Gould made clear that the ECB stands firmly behind both India and the BCCI in this pursuit. He also pointed to the 2030 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, as an ideal testing ground that could help India build the infrastructure and experience needed ahead of a potential Olympic bid.
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(Getty)
Mixed disability cricket eyes pathway toward Olympic inclusion
Alongside Olympic discussions, Gould touched on the growing momentum behind mixed disability cricket.
India and England are currently locked in a seven-match series, and Gould revealed that the concept originated roughly three to four years ago through Ian Martin, who joined the ECB and envisioned a format allowing players with different types of disabilities to compete together on the same field, against opposition from around the world.
Gould expressed his enthusiasm about the possibility of this format eventually featuring at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and even future editions of the Paralympics. He insisted that the format has already gained considerable popularity through fixtures between India, England and Australia, and believes that ICC Chairman Jay Shah could play a crucial role in expanding its reach.
BCCI/Creimas
When will the IOC decide the host for the 2026 Olympics?
Once the Targeted Dialogue phase wraps up, the Future Host Commission will present its formal recommendations to the IOC Session. From there, it’s up to the IOC Executive Board to settle on their preferred picks, with those final names then heading to a vote at the IOC Session sometime in mid-2029.
In practical terms, this means India’s Olympic hosting ambitions will remain under close evaluation for roughly three more years before a definitive decision is reached.
Why India’s Olympic bid deserves cautious optimism
Support from a body like the ECB is a massive boost to India’s Olympic ambitions, particularly given cricket’s massive commercial and cultural influence within the country.
Using the 2030 Commonwealth Games as a rehearsal run makes strategic sense too, as hosting a major multi-sport event first would expose gaps in infrastructure, logistics and organisation well before the far greater demands of an Olympic Games arrive.
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That said, India’s bid now faces a considerably more rigorous vetting process than previous host nations encountered, given the IOC’s newly introduced Strategic Dialogue stage. However, the three-year runway before a final decision gives India ample time to build a genuinely strong case, provided the groundwork through Ahmedabad 2030 translates into real, demonstrable capability rather than just political rhetoric.
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