New Delhi: World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe is in India for a series of informal meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The 68-year-old British sports icon, a four-time Olympic medalist, arrived in the national capital on Sunday morning, where he was welcomed by Athletics Federation of India (AFI) President Adille Sumariwalla.
Coe, who is in the running to become the next President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is using his visit to garner support for his candidacy. His trip comes ahead of next year’s IOC elections, where Thomas Bach currently serves as President.
Following his meeting with Mandaviya, the Sports Minister shared on social media: “Met Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics and IOC Member. Discussed our intent to host the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics and our vision for advancing athletics in India from grassroots development to achieving global excellence.”
Coe's visit also includes discussions with various stakeholders in Indian sports. The AFI is pushing for the country to host the 2028 Junior World Championships, while in Mumbai, Coe will meet with Tata Communications representatives, who have been selected as the host broadcasters for the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship, set to take place in Budapest. The competition, with a prize fund of USD 10 million, will feature the world's top-ranked athletes across 16 events, including the 100m, pole vault, and 4x100m relay.
The visit is particularly significant as India continues to advance its bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Last month, the country formally submitted its letter of intent to the IOC, marking a key milestone in its Olympic aspirations.
With PTI inputs