The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced seven interested host nations for the 2036 Olympic Games and outlined the next steps to select the Olympiad’s future host.
In a release from Olympics.com, the IOC published a handbook for potential host cities, outlining the steps it will take in making the decision.
According to the release, seven countries in “continuous dialogue” have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics: Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, and Turkey. An undisclosed number of other National Organizing Committees (NOCs) are also in noncommittal talks with the IOC about hosting the Olympics after 2036.
Over the last several months, and years for some NOCs, the IOC has been working on plans and visions to help plan for potential host countries, including virtual technical workshops with the interested countries to help outline the overall plans, which include the finding strategies, impact, legacy, and overall vision for the Games.
The 2036 Olympic Games projects will be assessed on several factors, including the venue plans and athlete experience, funding strategy, political and public support, delivery capabilities, and legacy strategy.
“I was fortunate to compete at five Olympic Games, across four continents. Each had their own character; each host brought something unique through its people, its culture, and the way it chose to stage the Games,” said former Olympic champion swimmer and current IOC President Kirsty Coventry in a release from Olympics.com. “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 Future Host Commission has invited interested parties to present their projects in November. After October 31, the commission will not consider any other interested parties as a host for the 2036 Olympics.
After the October 31 cutoff and the November meetings, the IOC will conduct “feasibility assessments” by March 2027, which will then lead to the opening of the 2036 strategic dialogue by the IOC Executive Board.
In December 228, the Executive Board will move on to additional talks with selected “preferred hosts”. The IOC Session will make the official decision on the Olympic host in mid-2029.
