7 Nations Race to Host Historic 2036 Olympics as India Eyes First Games in Ahmedabad
Seven countries, including India, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Turkiye, are now officially in the race to host the 2036 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee confirmed on Tuesday. The announcement marks a major step in the selection process for an event that has never been staged in India, with Ahmedabad named as the country’s preferred host city.
The IOC revealed that these seven nations form the list of Interested Parties currently engaged in Continuous Dialogue. They have been invited to present their detailed Games projects to the Future Host Commission next month. The presentations will be evaluated on technical factors including venue master-plans, athlete experience, funding strategies, political and public support, Games delivery capabilities, and long-term legacy plans designed to benefit host communities.
No additional Interested Parties will be considered for the 2036 Games after 31 October, the IOC stated, locking in the current group. India’s expression of interest was submitted in 2024, and the country is determined to secure its first-ever Summer Olympics.
India’s Historic Ambition Centre on Ahmedabad
India, the world’s most populous nation, has chosen Ahmedabad as its candidate city. The Indian Olympic Association will lead negotiations in close collaboration with the Gujarat government and with full support from the Union Sports Ministry. Officials emphasise that the bid focuses on cost control, clear project timelines and creating lasting benefits for local communities.
Hosting the Olympics would represent a landmark achievement for Indian sport. The Games have never been held on Indian soil, and success would place the country among the elite group of Olympic host nations. Ahmedabad’s selection reflects confidence in the city’s infrastructure potential and the broader development plans already under way in Gujarat.
The Full List of Contenders
The seven nations currently in Continuous Dialogue are, in alphabetical order: Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, Republic of Korea, South Africa and Turkiye.
Germany’s bid centres on Munich, which previously hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics. Hungary, which most recently attempted to secure the 2024 Games, has never staged the Olympics. Qatar, which successfully organised the 2022 FIFA World Cup, aims to become the first Muslim-majority nation to host the Summer Olympics and has previously bid with Doha.
South Africa seeks to become the first African host of the Olympic Games, building on its experience organising the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Republic of Korea has a strong track record, having staged the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Turkiye’s Istanbul has made five unsuccessful previous attempts and is trying once again.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry underlined the central priority: “Wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do. That is why, for every future host, delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point.”
Revised Selection Process and Timeline
The host selection process was paused after Coventry assumed the IOC presidency so that fresh feedback could be gathered from member nations to streamline procedures. Under the updated framework, the November presentations will lead into a Strategic Dialogue phase rather than the previous Targeted Dialogue. Strategic Dialogue remains the final stage of decision-making and is scheduled to begin in 2028.
At the conclusion of that phase, IOC members will receive a report from the Future Host Commission. In mid-2029 the IOC Executive Board will select Preferred Hosts to be put forward for election by the IOC Session. The host of the 2036 Olympic Games is therefore expected to be confirmed in mid-2029.
A shortlist is anticipated in March next year, after which selected countries will advance to the Strategic Dialogue stage. Candidate cities must demonstrate robust cost-control measures and realistic schedules for completing all project milestones.
Broader Context and Legacy Focus
The IOC has also noted that several National Olympic Committees are holding non-committal discussions about hosting future Games beyond 2036. For the 2036 cycle, however, the seven listed nations form the complete field of Interested Parties.
Legacy planning features prominently in the evaluation criteria. Hosts are expected to deliver not only a successful Games but also long-term benefits for their communities. This includes sustainable venue use, economic opportunities and sporting development that continues well after the closing ceremony.
India’s bid is being watched closely because of the country’s demographic scale and growing sporting infrastructure. A successful campaign would mark the first time the Summer Olympics are held in South Asia and would open new pathways for athletes from the region.
Qatar’s campaign highlights the country’s proven ability to deliver major global events under challenging timelines, while South Africa’s entry carries symbolic weight as a potential first for the African continent. Germany and South Korea bring decades of Olympic hosting experience, and Hungary and Turkiye continue long-standing ambitions to bring the Games to their territories.
What Comes Next
The next immediate milestone is the November presentations to the Future Host Commission. After those sessions the IOC will move through assessment stages culminating in the 2029 decision. Throughout the process the emphasis remains on athlete experience, financial sustainability and lasting positive impact.
For India the coming months will involve refining the Ahmedabad master-plan, securing political and public backing, and demonstrating the capacity to deliver a world-class event. Similar intensive preparation is under way in the other six nations.
The race to host the 2036 Olympics is now firmly under way. Seven countries stand ready to present their visions, each hoping to write the next chapter in Olympic history. The ultimate decision, expected in mid-2029, will determine which nation welcomes the world’s athletes for the Games of the XXXVI Olympiad.
As the process unfolds, attention will remain focused on how each bidder balances ambition with practicality, tradition with innovation, and short-term spectacle with long-term legacy. The 2036 Olympics promise to be a defining moment not only for the chosen host but for the Olympic Movement itself.
