ECB Endorses India’s Bid To Host 2036 Olympic Games

Overview

• ECB chief Richard Gould publicly confirmed on Sunday that the England and Wales Cricket Board supports India’s potential 2036 Olympic bid and called the backing a clear vote of confidence in India’s sporting plans.
• Gould framed the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad as a practical test of venues, transport and event management that India can use to demonstrate readiness for a larger Olympic staging.
• The ECB linked mixed disability cricket — a format developed about three to four years ago by Ian Martin and currently on show in the India‑England series — to the bid as an inclusivity asset for Commonwealth, Asian and Paralympic programmes.
• The IOC’s Targeted Dialogue process continues and a final decision is not expected until the IOC Session in mid‑2029, with the committee having previously flagged fundamental concerns about India’s bid that will need concrete answers on infrastructure and governance.
• The ECB’s public support and deeper ECB–BCCI coordination on schedules and formats gives India a political and sporting boost but does not close the IOC’s scrutiny, and successful delivery in Ahmedabad will be crucial for persuading international bodies and athletes.