South Africa, India, Qatar among nations who want to host 2036 Olympics

Seven countries, including India, Germany, and Qatar, are in contention to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announcement on Tuesday. Hungary, Turkey, South Africa, and South Korea are among the interested parties engaged in preliminary talks with the IOC, with a shortlist to be determined in March of next year. Some countries may advance to a strategic dialogue phase, which is expected to conclude in 2028, leading to a final decision in mid-2029.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasized that the athletes must remain the focal point throughout the entire process, stating, "Wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do." India, the world's most populous nation, is aiming to host its first Olympics, while Qatar, having bid before with Doha, is seeking to become the first Muslim-majority country to host the event.

Qatar previously hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Hungary, which previously bid for the 2024 Olympics, has not hosted the Games, and Munich, the site of the 1972 Olympics, is Germany's candidate.

Turkey's Istanbul has failed in five previous bids, while South Africa, which hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is hoping to become the first African nation to host the Olympics. South Korea has hosted both the summer and winter Olympics, with Seoul in 1988 and Pyeongchang in 2018. Preferred hosts will be announced following the dialogue phase in 2028, with the final decision anticipated in mid-2029.

Countries have until October 31 to submit their bids, but new candidates are unlikely to emerge within less than four weeks of the deadline. The bidding rules have been revised under Coventry's leadership, incorporating a strategic dialogue stage and increasing member involvement throughout the process. It is highly probable that more than one country will be designated as preferred hosts, unlike previous votes where only one bidder was considered by the IOC executive board.

Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Games, with Brisbane, Australia, set to host four years later.