October 7: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Tuesday that seven countries, including India, are in talks with it to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Ahmedabad is India’s candidate city, the Associated Press reported. The other six are Qatar, South Korea, Türkiye, Germany, Hungary and South Africa. The IOC will draw up a shortlist in March 2027, and the host will be chosen in 2029 by a vote of more than 100 IOC members.
Key highlights
- The IOC statement lists the seven in alphabetical order: Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye, SportsTak reported.
- The deadline for new countries to express interest is October 31, 2026.
- India has never hosted the Olympics; this is its first bid, according to Al Jazeera.
- Ahmedabad will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
- This time the host will be chosen by a members’ vote. Brisbane was awarded the 2032 Games without a contest.
What the IOC said
The IOC said the parties interested in hosting the 2036 Games that are currently in “continuous dialogue” with it are Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye, SportsTak reported. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said that wherever the Games are held, athletes must remain at the heart of every decision, AP and Al Jazeera reported.
The seven bidders at a glance
| Country | City | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Ahmedabad | First Olympic bid; host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games; Narendra Modi Stadium, with a reported capacity of more than 130,000 | AP; Al Jazeera; SportsTak |
| Qatar | Doha | Hosted the 2022 football World Cup and the 2006 Asian Games, and will host the 2030 Asian Games; heat means the Games would have to be held later than July–August | AP; Al Jazeera |
| South Korea | — | Hosted the 1988 Olympics in Seoul | AP |
| Türkiye | Istanbul | — | AP |
| Germany | Munich | Host of the 1972 Olympics | AP; Al Jazeera |
| Hungary | Budapest | — | AP |
| South Africa | Cape Town | Would be the first Summer Olympics in Africa if chosen | AP |
The timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 31, 2026 | Deadline for new countries to express interest |
| March 2027 | IOC Executive Board approves a shortlist |
| 2028 | Detailed talks with shortlisted bidders |
| Mid-2029 | Vote by IOC members and announcement of the host |
Why the selection method changed
The IOC has stopped its previous fast-track method, under which Brisbane was given the 2032 Games 11 years in advance without a contested vote, AP reported. IOC members had asked for a bigger role and more than one candidate on the ballot, rather than simply approving the board’s choice, the agency said.
What is in India’s bid
India sent a Letter of Intent to the IOC in 2024, SportsTak reported. The bid is centred on Ahmedabad, home to the Narendra Modi Stadium, where multi-sport facilities are being built for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. India hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982 and the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
What to watch
- Whether any new country joins the race by October 31.
- Whether India makes the March 2027 shortlist.
- The pace of preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
What it means
The 2024 Games were in Europe (Paris), 2028 will be in North America (Los Angeles) and 2032 in Oceania (Brisbane). There is no formal rule of rotation between continents, but this sequence strengthens the case of bidders from Asia and Africa for 2036. Three of the seven bidders are Asian: India, Qatar and South Korea. India faces two big tests. The first is the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which IOC members will use to judge whether Ahmedabad can deliver on time and without controversy. The second is the new voting method: with more than 100 members voting rather than one board recommendation, every bidder must win support across countries. Qatar has ready infrastructure from the World Cup and experience of big events, while South Korea and Germany have hosted the Olympics before.
This article was first published in Hindi and has been translated. The Press of Asia now publishes in English only.
Sources
- AP (via TSN): IOC confirms India, Qatar among seven bidders who want to host 2036 Olympics
- Al Jazeera: Qatar and India among seven countries bidding for 2036 Olympics, IOC says
- SportsTak: India among seven bidders for 2036 Olympics, confirms IOC
The Sports Desk covers cricket, the Asian Games and Indian and international sport. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
