RIL gears up to host India house at Olympics

Reliance Foundation, principal partner of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the non-profit arm of Reliance Industries, is gearing up to host the first-ever India House at Paris Olympics 2024 slated for July 26 to August 11. The India House, a 40,000 sq ft facility, will not just showcase the cricket-crazy nation's culture to the world but will also serve as the "home away from home" for Indian athletes and their families.

"From cuisine to music and textiles to jewellery, the India House will embody India's determination for success across all endeavours, particularly in the realm of sports," an official said on condition of anonymity.

The official added that a dedicated section at India House will commemorate India's 100-year journey at the Olympics.


The hosting of India House will mark a giant leap in India's Olympic history as the country has never hosted its own official hospitality house at the games.

Previously, JSW Group had announced plans to host the first-ever Indian Olympic hospitality house at Tokyo Olympics in 2020. However, the Tokyo games held in July-August 2021 didn't have any official hospitality house as the entire event was conducted in a bio-bubble due to the pandemic. During 2016 Rio Olympics, more than 35 nations set up country-specific hospitality houses.

The decision to set up an India House at the Paris games was first announced by the Reliance Foundation and IOA in July 2022.

Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani, the first Indian woman to become an IOC member, was at the forefront of bringing the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) 141st session to India. India hosted the second IOC session in its history in October 2023, after a gap of 40 years. The Indian government has also made its intention clear that it will bid aggressively for the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics.

"We are very excited to host the first-ever India House at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. It will be a great opportunity to showcase India's immense talent, potential, and aspiration to the world," Ambani said in July 2022 while announcing the hosting of the India House.