Seven Nations in Contention for 2036 Olympic Games Host Selection

The International Olympic Committee has announced that Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, Republic of Korea (South Korea), South Africa and Türkiye have all officially entered the race to host the 2036 Olympic Summer Games, as it laid out the timeline for selecting its next Olympic host city.

Parties have until October 31, 2026, to register their interest with the IOC during a “Continuous Dialogue” phase, before presenting their projects to the Future Host Commission next month. After that date, no other interested parties will be considered for 2036.

Of those seven countries already in the running, only two — Germany (in 1936 and 1972) and the Republic of Korea (in 1988) have previously hosted an Olympic Summer Games. If ultimately successful, South Africa would become the first country on that continent to host an Olympic Games.

It was also reported by Olympics.com that several National Olympic Committees are taking part in “noncommittal” talks with the IOC about hosting future Olympic Games beyond 2036.

The host city of the 2036 Olympic Summer Games will be elected by IOC members at the IOC Session in mid-2029, with an exact date to be confirmed in due course. The IOC typically announces the host city between seven and 11 years before the Games take place.

Earlier this year, during the 146th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, the IOC Executive Board approved and endorsed the principles of the host city selection process for the 2036 Games, as part of the Olympic Movement’s “Fit for the Future” reforms. It is designed to establish a fixed, clearer timetable and add a formal shortlisting phase.

The 2036 Olympic Games projects will be assessed on various technical factors such as the venue masterplan and athlete experience, funding strategy, political and public support, Games delivery capabilities and legacy strategy to create long-term benefits for host communities.

Furthermore, bids will be evaluated on strategic elements, such as their vision for the Games and their alignment with both local development plans and the goals of the Olympic Movement.

“I was fortunate to compete at five Olympic Games, across four continents. Each had their own character,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry. “Each host brought something unique through its people, its culture and the way it chose to stage the Games. But wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do.

“As an athlete, you spend years working to make your Olympic dream come true. The experience you have when you finally reach the Olympic Games stays with you for the rest of your life. That is why, for every future host, delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point.”

The updates to the selection process reflect a new approach to dialogue that was introduced in 2019. The process is overseen by the Future Host Commission, which explores, monitors and encourages interest in future bids for the Olympic Games, Olympic Winter Games and Youth Olympic Games

Host City Selection Timeline

Parties that are currently in Continuous Dialogue with the IOC are required to register their interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Summer Games by October 31, 2026, in line with the IOC’s new host city selection approach.

Next month, they will deliver virtual presentations to the Future Host Commission, before IOC Feasibility Assessments take place by March 2027 at the latest.

At that point, the IOC will shortlist interested bidders to enter a formal “Strategic Dialogue” phase, in which it will offer enhanced technical support to the interested parties and provide an initial response to a new Future Host Questionnaire, which sets out key legal and financial guarantees.

These guarantees must now be provided earlier in the host selection process for transparency purposes, and the completed questionnaire must eventually include complete venue master plans and infrastructure/transport provisions to progress to the next stage.

The Future Host Commission will then carry out site visits to the proposed host regions and produce a report for the Executive Board.
In December 2028, the Executive Board will open a “Targeted Dialogue” phase with preferred candidate cities. The cities will provide a final response to the questionnaire and a full set of guarantees, before the final selection is announced.

The host of the 2036 Olympic Games will be elected by IOC members at the IOC Session in mid-2029.

Potential Bids

Last month, Munich won Germany’s internal selection to be considered for one of the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It has also been suggested that Great Britain (North of England), Poland, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Italy, Denmark, Canada and Russia may enter the bidding race for either the 2040 or 2044 Olympic Games.