Tokyo Olympics

The Olympic Games, a significant tradition linking sport and culture, have a rich history dating back over a thousand years. These games are considered to be the toughest and most competitive in the world where athletes from all countries compete every 4 years. The games are organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Due to the success of the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics were also started which include competition on winter sports. At the Antwerp 1920 Games, India sent its first official Olympic contingent, which was commemorated in Tokyo 2020. In 2021, the Olympics included 339 events and over 11 thousand competitors from over 200 countries. Paris is set to host the Olympics in 2024 for a record third time.

The Greeks started measuring time in Olympiads in 776 BC, which is when the first written records of the official Games appeared. The first Olympic Games were held every four years in honor of Zeus, and artistic activities such as music, singing, poetry, and theater were organized at the Pythian or Delphic Games. Theodosius I, the Roman Emperor, banned the Olympic Games in 393 AD on the grounds of paganism and religious prohibition. The Games were not revived until the modern era. In 1894, the first Olympic Congress was organized by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, which brought together the main stakeholders in Paris. As the congress ended on 23 June, the Olympic Games were reborn and the International Olympic Committee was created. The Olympic spirit continues to be a vital part of the Olympic tradition today.

The Olympic Games conducted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are a global sports event dating back thousands of years and the modern version of which started in 1894. Its official motto is “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”. The games are conducted once in every 4 years. The IOC conducts the following events:-

• Summer Olympics: Include about 340 sporting events. They are set to be hosted by Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles, USA in 2028.
  • In 2020, Softball, Karate, Skateboard, Climbing and Surfing were added as Olympic events.
  • In 2024, Breakdancing has been added.
  • In 2028, cricket will debut as an Olympic sport.
• Youth Olympics: Are conducted every 4 years for athletes aging 15 to 18 years. The next Summer Youth Olympics is scheduled in Dakar, Senegal while their Winter Edition is set to be held in 2024 in Gangwon, South Korea.
• Winter Olympics: They include 109 events across 15 sports and over 2800 athletes participated in 2022. At the Beijing event in 2022, Beijing became the first city to host both Winter and Summer Olympics. They will be hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in 2026.

The Paralympic Games are four yearly multi-sport events for sportspersons with disabilities. However, they are conducted by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and not the IOC.
Objectives of Olympic Games: Promoting the development of physical and mental qualities, educating young people through sport to build a better, more peaceful world, sharing Olympic ideals with the world, and bringing athletes from all over the world for a major celebration of sport every four years.

To be conducted from July 2024 to August 2024

• Motto: Games Wide Open
• Record: Hosting for a third time after 1900 and 1924 to tie London’s record of hosting thrice.
• Equality: First to feature an equal number of male and female athletes.

• Traditional System: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) receives letters of interest from cities. It required an extensive, multi-year, multi-step assessment process as hosts are chosen 7 years in advance.
• New Approach: ‘Olympic Agenda 2020’ established 'new norm' for host city selection during the 2019 IOC session in Lausanne, Switzerland. It brought more freedom to the selection of hosts and replaced the seven-year rule. Highlighted adaptability, affordability, and sustainability under the catchphrase, "The Games adapt to the region, the region does not adapt to the Games."

is the official Indian body coordinating our representation in the Olympic Games. It also chooses India’s representatives to the Commonwealth Games. It is headed by legendary track athlete PT Usha. There are State & Services Olympic Associations which operate at regional levels.

India's performance at the Olympics has shown significant improvement over the years, especially in recent editions having bagged a total of 35 medals. These include 10 gold, 9 silver, and 16 bronze medals. India first participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 1920 and has been participating in every edition since then. Some of the breakthrough moments and records are enlisted below:-

• 2000 Sydney Olympics: Karnam Malleswari won a bronze medal in the Women's 69 kg weightlifting category, marking the first-ever Olympic medal won by an Indian woman.
• 2008 Beijing Olympics: Abhinav Bindra won the Men's 10-meter air rifle event, securing India's first individual gold medal. Vijender Singh also won a bronze medal in boxing, marking India's first boxing medal.
• 2012 London Olympics: Mary Kom won a bronze medal in boxing, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in the sport.
• 2016 Rio Olympics: Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal in wrestling, becoming the first Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal. P.V. Sindhu won a silver medal in badminton, marking the first silver for an Indian woman at the Olympics.
• 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Neeraj Chopra won gold in Javelin Throw, becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in track and field. India achieved its best-ever performance with a haul of seven medals.
• The Indian Men’s Hockey team has a remarkable history, winning 8 gold medals in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1980.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed the nation's desire to submit a bid for the 2036 Olympics.

• To demonstrate soft power: Examples include South Africa and Brazil after apartheid, and Europe after World War II.
• To Establish an Effective Image: Following the scandal-plagued 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, India seeks to establish a more favorable image by seeking to host the Olympics.
• The aspirations and readiness of India: Even though it will take time for the host city of the Olympics to be approved, this action demonstrates India's aspirations for the world stage.
  • India has always aspired to be at the top table, such as the G-20 Presidency or the UN Security Council. Given the chance to host the Olympics in 2036, it may have an advantage in a world order that is changing.
• Athletic Accomplishments and Self-Belief: In terms of athletics, India hopes to capitalize on the growing sporting power of India. Positive results have been seen in multidisciplinary events since Abhinav Bindra became the first individual Olympic gold medallist for the country in Beijing in 2008.
• Promotion of Investment and Tourism- India's bid to host the Olympics has the potential to boost investment and tourism.

India has promoted improved performance at the Olympics through infrastructure and coaching facilities for athletes. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, aims to improve the country's performance in the Olympics and Paralympics. It provides financial and logistical support to elite athletes identified as having the potential to win medals. This includes foreign training, international competitions, equipment, coaching camps, and a monthly stipend. The Mission Olympic Cell is established to assist the TOPS athletes.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) was set up in 1984 under the Department of Sports with the twin objectives of promoting sports and achieving excellence at national and international levels. SAI maintains training facilities, conducts competitions and also runs talent identification programmes to hone the skills of youngsters. Other efforts like the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification Programme and Khelo India Games by SAI also aim to improve national competition to sharpen our athletes.

Post achievement there are multiple benefits in forms of government jobs and monetary assistance to winners. India has felicitated and awarded cash prizes to successful athletes who have grabbed the gold, silver and bronze medals.

As India looks to host the Olympic Games it needs to bolster its sports governance and identify sites for a Games Village to be established in a city which is internationally connected and has a robust sports and transport infrastructure. It must also consider the challenges which come with this event as it has led to budget overruns and even financial crises for countries like Argentina.