MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed Saturday that his country would bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and become just the fourth Asian nation to host the Games.

The world’s most populous country is this weekend holding a session of the International Olympic Committee’s executive board, which has already resolved to include cricket — India’s most popular sport — at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Modi made the announcement while formally opening the meeting after months of hints from members of his government, saying it was the “dream and aspiration” of India’s 1.4 billion people.