New Delhi (AFP)

India will relaunch its campaign to organize the 2032 Olympics after the ebb of the pandemic of new coronavirus, promises its Olympic committee leader Narinder Batra, in an interview with AFP.

"We are serious and fully committed to hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2032 Olympic Games," he said.

India, organizer of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, has already made an appearance with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the two events.

For the JO-2032, it could be in competition with Queensland (Australia), Shanghai (China) and a possible joint candidacy of the two Koreas.

For the YOG-2026, the giant from South Asia should fight with Thailand, Russia and Colombia.

But the candidacy "is a long-term project that will not advance until December, I think," because of the pandemic that has put the world of sport to a halt, said Narinder Batra, also president of the International Federation. field hockey.

"Now is not the time to discuss an Olympic bid with major groups or the state. We must first find a way to solve this problem which concerns the whole world."

Among the weaknesses of an Indian bid, the memory of the Commonwealth Games organized by Delhi in 2010. The event had been marked by delays in construction, infrastructure problems and financial scandals.

India has also been withdrawn from the World Boxing Championships in favor of Belgrade (Serbia) due to the lack of timely payment of organization costs according to the international federation.

But for Narinder Batra, the 2010 Games showed "that India is capable of organizing any big event, be it the Olympic Games or other Games".

It also highlights the country's strong economic growth to underline its credibility.

© 2020 AFP