Mumbai's National Centre of the Performing Arts is due to host the film collection and photographs exhibition from October 1 to 7 before it moves to the India International Centre in the Indian capital New Delhi until October 14, the day before the Session is due to start.

The festival includes 33 films and 10 series dating back to 1912, showcasing part of the Olympic Museum's collection.

Olympics in Reel Life also hopes to showcase the Olympic Museum's Olympism Made Visible photography project, with two of its photographers, Dana Lixenberg and Lorenzo Vitturi, set to attend the festival.

Indians in Olympics is the third element of the festival, celebrating the success of the nation's athletes at the Olympic Games.

The IOC project is being staged in partnership with the Mumbai-based Film Heritage Foundation.

Olympic Museum director Angelita Teo hailed the launch of Olympics in Reel Life.

"Art and sport have been intertwined since Pierre de Coubertin envisioned the modern Olympic Games," she said.

"Film and photography invite us to experience the diverse cultural perspectives that people around the world bring to the Games.

"It is my hope that these powerful works inspire our friends in India to continue to embrace Olympism every day, especially as we look ahead to the Olympic Games Paris 2024."

The IOC billed the festival as strengthening "cultural ties" with India, following last year's launch of the Olympic Values Education Programme with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, which was set up by India's 2008 Olympics shooting gold medallist.

Relations between the IOC and India appear strong, with IOC President Thomas Bach claiming earlier this month there is a "strong case" for the nation to host the 0236 Olympics and Paralympics.

India is due to host the IOC Session for the first time since 1983 from October 15 to 17 in Mumbai, delayed from May because of governance issues and delays to elections at the Indian Olympic Association.