Picture Credit: IOC Media
It was a day of joy for Indian sports fans as the Indian delegation led by Mrs. Nita Ambani won the bid to host the International Olympics Committee (IOC) session for the year 2023. Mumbai was named the host for the event next year following a voting system at the IOC session 2022. A total of 82 IOC members were eligible for voting, out of which 6 voted for abstention, while 75 members voted in favor. Only one vote went against Mumbai as the host of the next IOC Session.
The Indian delegation comprising the country's first individual Olympic gold medallist (Beijing 2008, shooting) Abhinav Bindra, IOC Member Nita Ambani, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra, and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur made the presentation to IOC members during the 139th IOC Session, being held alongside the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“It's an honor to lead the Indian delegation today for hosting such a prestigious Olympic event," said Mrs Nita Ambani, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member. “I truly believe that India is on the verge of creating something very special to the Olympic movement, she added.
IOC Session to return to India after 40 years
The IOC Session 2023 will be the second time the event will be hosted in India. The country last hosted an IOC session in 1983 in New Delhi. The event will be held at the Jio World Center in Mumbai in May or June next year. The IOC session 2023 is expected to choose the host city for the 2030 Winter Olympics.
The IOC has a total of 101 members with voting rights. Additionally, there are 45 honorary members and one honor member who do not have the right to vote. In addition to the members, senior Representatives (President & Secretary-General) from more than 50 International Sports Federations, (summer and winter sporting disciplines), also attend the IOC session.
