India Submits Expression of Interest to Host 2038 Asian Games

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to host the 2038 Asian Games. The submission was reviewed at the OCA executive board meeting in Sanya, China, on 21 April 2026, concurrent with the Asian Beach Games. No deadline for a full bid has been announced.

The Hindu

India’s bid aims to make the country a global hub for major multi-sport events. It will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, a city also slated for a 2036 Olympic bid. Hosting the 2038 Asian Games would extend Ahmedabad’s role as a recurring venue, complementing India’s earlier Asian Games in New Delhi (1951, 1982). The Asian Games involve 45 nations and 10,000 athletes; the 2023 Hangzhou edition featured more than 11,000 athletes in 40 sports.

The Hindu

IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer leads the bid, and the OCA is evaluating the EOI. Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is the proposed host. Confirmed hosts for editions are Riyadh (2030), Doha (2034) and Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (2026). South Korea (Gwangju, Daegu) expressed interest in 2021; Mongolia’s formal status is unclear.

The Hindu

• 2020: OCA awarded the 2030 Games to Riyadh and the 2034 Games to Doha.

The Hindu

• 21 April 2026: OCA executive board in Sanya reviewed India’s EOI.

The Hindu

• 2028 (estimated): OCA expected to select the 2038 host.

The Hindu

Securing the 2038 Asian Games would reinforce India’s ambition to attract large-scale sporting events, driving infrastructure development, tourism, and international visibility. Repeated hosting in Ahmedabad could create a lasting sports-facility legacy and strengthen the city’s case for a 2036 Olympic bid.

The Hindu

IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer confirmed the EOI and noted that the OCA has begun initial discussions, emphasizing that the process remains open-ended with no deadline. An OCA official indicated the host-city decision is expected in 2028, two years after the anticipated award.

The Hindu

South Korea’s interest is documented, but Mongolia’s formal EOI status is unverified. The OCA has not disclosed a timeline for bid submissions, leaving procedural steps for prospective hosts unclear.

The Hindu

• “Yes, we have submitted an EOI, and it was discussed by the OCA in its executive board meeting,” — Raghuram Iyer, IOA CEO

The Hindu

• “It’s only an Expression of Interest (as of) now. They (OCA) had an initial discussion, and they will tell us what to do going ahead,” — Raghuram Iyer, IOA CEO

The Hindu

• “There is no deadline for submission of bids (as such).” — Raghuram Iyer, IOA CEO

The Hindu

• “It (the award of 2038 Asian Games) is likely to be done in two years’ time,” — OCA official

The Hindu

The OCA is expected to announce the 2038 host city in 2028. India will continue preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and may formalize its 2036 Olympic bid for Ahmedabad. Dialogue with the OCA will shape the final bid dossier.

The Hindu