India is reportedly planning to advocate for the inclusion of yoga as an Olympic sport, as part of its broader efforts to boost the global profile of this ancient practice. This initiative is one of several proposals being considered by a committee under India’s sports ministry, which is also exploring the inclusion of kabaddi, kho kho, chess, squash, and T20 cricket in the Olympics. The move aligns with India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
According to a report by The Indian Express, discussions about introducing yoga to the Olympics began in December last year, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expression of interest in hosting the 2036 Games. The proposal reflects a strategic effort to elevate sports that are culturally significant in India, as part of the nation’s campaign to secure the Olympic bid.
Under the rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the organizing committee for a specific edition of the Games has the authority to propose one or more new sports for inclusion, typically based on their regional popularity. For example, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee introduced five new sports—surfing, karate, sports climbing, skateboarding, and baseball/softball—into its Summer Games lineup, as noted on the official Olympics website.
The potential inclusion of yoga in the Olympics is seen as a continuation of its growing global recognition. On June 21, 2024, International Yoga Day was celebrated worldwide, with significant events held in India, including large gatherings in Kolkata and at Kalinga Stadium. These celebrations highlight the widespread appeal and cultural importance of yoga, a factor that India hopes to leverage in its Olympic proposal.
The idea of introducing new sports to the Olympics is not unprecedented. Breaking, a dance style with roots in hip-hop culture, made its Olympic debut at the 2018 Summer Youth Games in Buenos Aires and will feature in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Similarly, flag football, a sport that emerged during World War II, is set to debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The election of the host nation for the 2036 Games is anticipated to take place after 2025, with Brisbane, Australia, already confirmed to host the 2032 Olympics.
Prime Minister Modi, who was instrumental in the UN’s adoption of International Yoga Day in 2014, has emphasized India’s determination to host the 2036 Olympics. Speaking at the International Olympic Committee session in Mumbai last October, he stated, “India will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organize the Olympics in India in 2036. This is an age-old dream of [1.4 billion] Indians, it is their aspiration.” Modi expressed confidence that India would garner the necessary support from the IOC to realize this dream.
On Friday, Modi led a Yoga Day celebration in Jammu and Kashmir, underscoring his commitment to promoting yoga both nationally and internationally. The UN’s declaration of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga stands as a testament to the global recognition of yoga’s benefits, a cause championed by Modi himself.
