Seven Countries, Including India and Qatar, Vying to Host 2036 Olympics, Says IOC
Seven Countries, Including India and Qatar, Vying to Host 2036 Olympics, Says IOC
Seven countries are in the running to stage the 2036 Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee confirmed on Tuesday, opening a wide contest for the Games.
India, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, South Africa and South Korea are the interested parties, all in preliminary talks with the IOC over hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics.
Who is in the running for the 2036 Olympics
| Country | Bid position |
|---|---|
| India | First Olympic bid, centred on Ahmedabad |
| Germany | Munich chosen as candidate city |
| Qatar | Building on 2022 World Cup infrastructure |
| Hungary | In preliminary talks with the IOC |
| Turkey | In preliminary talks with the IOC |
| South Africa | Never hosted the Olympic Games |
| South Korea | In preliminary talks with the IOC |
How the IOC will pick the 2036 Olympics host
The IOC Executive Board will draw up a shortlist in March 2027. The countries that make the cut will move into a strategic dialogue phase with the Olympic body.
Preferred hosts are to be named in 2028, with the final decision expected in mid-2029, the IOC said in a statement. Any other country that wants to join the race has until October 31 to declare its interest.
Hosts will be assessed on funding as well as political and public support, the IOC said.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said athletes must stay at the centre of the decision. “Wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do,” the Zimbabwean former swimmer said in the statement. “That is why, for every future host, delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point.”
What the leading bidders bring to the table
India has put Ahmedabad forward as its centrepiece. The city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, widely seen as a rehearsal for an Olympic bid, and is home to the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Germany’s Olympic committee voted last month to pick Munich as its candidate city. A Munich Games in 2036 would come a century after the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which were overseen by the Nazi regime. Munich previously hosted the Summer Games in 1972.
Qatar is leaning on the stadiums and transport networks built for the 2022 football World Cup. An Olympics in the Gulf would have to move beyond the traditional July-August slot because of the heat.
South Africa hosted the 2010 football World Cup and the 1995 Rugby World Cup but has never staged the Olympics. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Games, and Brisbane follows in 2032.
FAQs
When will the 2036 Olympics host be decided?
The IOC plans to name preferred hosts in 2028 and take the final decision in mid-2029. A shortlist of candidates will be drawn up by the IOC Executive Board in March 2027.
Which city is India’s 2036 Olympics bid centred on?
Ahmedabad, the key city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat. It will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is home to the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Has an African country ever hosted the Olympics?
No. South Africa, which is in the running for 2036, has hosted the 2010 football World Cup and the 1995 Rugby World Cup but never the Olympic Games.
Where are the next two Summer Olympics being held?
Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Games, and Brisbane in Australia will stage the 2032 edition.
