How India’s aim of competing in the Olympics is anchored by the Continental Tour

On Sunday, August 10, India will host the inaugural World Athletics Continental Tour event. The event is being held in the charming city of Bhubaneshwar, which has subtly but steadily established the foundation for India’s aspirations to compete internationally in sports.

India’s first entry into the year-round competitive program will be the Continental Tour, which is only one level below the coveted Diamond League event. The significance of this event extends much beyond its classification as a “bronze level” event, which is the lowest of the three Continental Tour levels.

This is one of the first significant tests for a nation that has publicly stated its intention to host the 2036 Olympic Games, not just in terms of infrastructure but also in terms of organization, legitimacy, and intent.

India aspires to host the Olympics in 2036, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have stated out during the past year.

Ahmedabad has already been pitched as the central venue, with other cities like Bhopal (rowing), Goa (football and sailing) expected to play satellite roles.

While those are the early outlines of an ambitious dream, it’s on the eastern edge of the country — in Odisha — where some of the groundwork is already being laid. In addition to becoming a center for hockey, Bhubaneshwar is now gaining attention in the sports world.

Bhubaneshwar: Why?

The Continental Tour, for the uninitiated, is a series of global meets under the World Athletics umbrella — one step below the Diamond League. In Bhubaneshwar, nearly 160 athletes from 17 countries will compete. It’s not a massive event by international standards, but it’s high-level enough to turn heads.

And that’s what matters.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, former AFI chief Adille Sumariwalla, who is presently one of World Athletics’ vice presidents, stated that obtaining the event wasn’t easy; it had to be earned.

Since it was our first time, they awarded us bronze even though we hoped to hold an event at the silver or gold level. We had to make a pitch. We displayed to them the medals we have been winning all around the world. We presented our argument.

Sumariwalla explained the steps involved in bringing such an event to India.

“You have to pitch the event. Make a case for why they should give it to you. After that, they determine if you are capable or not. If you don’t, they won’t risk it because the performance of the event affects future selections. The entire procedure is called into doubt if it is not executed correctly. Adille Sumariwalla (left) said that the chance to host the Continental Tour had to be earned (Image credit: Kingshuk Kusari)

Before the green light was given, World Athletics checked everything — stadium infrastructure, logistics, transport links, air connectivity, you name it. Sumariwalla says this is essentially like conducting a mini Asian Championships. “The equipment standards are the same. The competition format is international-level. We’ve taken care of all that.”

What Persuaded the World Athletics Officials?

When India hosted the Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar in 2017, the seeds for this were sown, and the world of athletics started to take notice.

“The CEO, the director of communications, the director of international affairs, and the president of world athletics were all present and observed the caliber of the event. I was impressed by that,” Sumariwalla remarked. Bhubaneshwar is stepping into the athletics spotlight by hosting the Continental tour (Image credit: Kingshuk Kusari)

That’s when the narrative shifted. At that point, India transitioned from a potential nation to a capable one.

India’s Olympic Dreams

The first stage is to host this bronze-level competition. The Odisha government and the AFI are already planning for the future. The expectation is that a successful event here will lead to silver or gold level meets next — maybe even a Diamond League in the next few years.

“We are fully committed to competing in the World Athletics Championships in 2029 and 2031. That’s gone since 2027 is with China. However, we’re getting bids ready, one for Ahmedabad and one for Bhubaneshwar,” Sumariwalla disclosed.

In the event that such bids are accepted, India will have a reasonable path to a potential Olympic candidacy. For many years, the prospect of hosting the Olympics seemed like a far-fetched dream, something that only happened in places like Beijing, Los Angeles, or London. However, India is undermining that narrative with each international event executed well, each medal won on the international scene, and each tiny city that rises to the international athletic spotlight.

There is more to Bhubaneshwar than just a bronze-level competition. It carries the belief that global sport can thrive here, that India can deliver, especially at the biggest stage.