As India eyes a historic bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, the nation stands at a pivotal moment in its sporting journey. With Ahmedabad reportedly in contention, the decision, expected seven years before the Games, will shape India’s future on the global sports stage. If successful, this would mark the first time India hosts the Olympics, presenting immense opportunities and challenges. The nation must not only ensure top-tier infrastructure but also create a sporting ecosystem capable of producing world-class athletes who can compete at the highest level. First female IOC President Kristy Coventry, an African of European descent, became the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March 2025. There are many firsts in Coventry’s election to the most coveted post in the sporting world—the first female IOC president, the first IOC President to be elected from Africa, and, of course, the first Olympic medal-winning IOC President. She won three medals at the Athens 2004 summer Olympics—a gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke, a silver medal in the 100-metre backstroke, and …