India wins bid to host 2023 IOC session in Mumbai

India has won the right to host the 2023 International Olympic Committee's (IOC) session in Mumbai in an unopposed race. The Indian delegation comprising the country's first individual Olympic gold medallist (Beijing 2008, shooting) Abhinav Bindra, IOC Member Nita Ambani, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra, and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur made the presentation to IOC members during the 139th  IOC Session, being held alongside the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Sports and Youth Affairs minister Anurag Thakur in his tweet call it a historic moment. 

A historic moment as the International Olympic Committee Session is coming to India in 2023!

Indian sport has made giant strides in recent years.

Excited and proud to have been a part of the Indian delegation for this landmark occasion.#StrongerTogether #IOCSession2023

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) February 19, 2022

This will be the second IOC session in India. The country last hosted an IOC session in 1983 in New Delhi. "The Olympic Movement is back to India after a 40-year wait! I am truly grateful to the International Olympic Committee for entrusting India with the honour of hosting the IOC Session in Mumbai in 2023," said Nita Ambani in a statement. The IOC session is the general meeting of the Members of the IOC. It is the IOC's supreme organ, and its decisions are final. An ordinary Session is held once a year, while Extraordinary Sessions may be convened by the President or upon the written request of at least one-third of the Members.