Seven Countries Bid to Host the 2036 Summer Olympics

Seven countries are formally pursuing the 2036 Summer Olympics, with the International Olympic Committee confirming multiple applications ahead of the fast-approaching autumn deadline.

Application Deadline Set for Late October

The race to host the 2036 Summer Games is entering a crucial phase as candidates prepare their final submissions. The International Olympic Committee established an end-of-October deadline for formal bids to land at headquarters. While seven nations remain in the mix, the International Olympic Committee leadership emphasizes that the primary focus of the Olympic movement must remain fixed on the athletes themselves.

– Oavsett var spelen arrangeras så finns det en sak som aldrig får förändras. Idrottarna måste stå i centrum för allt vi gör, säger IOK:s ordförande Kirsty Coventry, emphasizing that athletes must remain the center of everything regardless of where the Games are staged.

India and Qatar Emerge as Early Frontrunners

Among the seven interested applicants, India and Qatar have positioned themselves as the frontrunners in the contest, according to an Associated Press report. India is targeting the city of Ahmedabad for its proposed Olympic footprint. The city already features the world’s largest cricket venue in the Narendra Modi Stadium, which holds a capacity of 132,000 spectators. Earlier this year, regional officials unveiled plans for a massive new sports complex, following a broader Olympic master plan presented by Ahmedabad and neighboring Gandhinagar carrying a projected cost nearing 68 billion Swedish kronor at current exchange rates.

Qatar’s bid approach differs by potentially expanding beyond the capital city of Doha. Reports indicate that the nation’s application could distribute certain sports events across neighboring countries around the Persian Gulf region.

Broader Timeline Discussions for Other Contenders

For the remaining nations in the running—South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary, and Turkey—the evaluation process involves a wider horizon. The International Olympic Committee has engaged these countries in discussions that extend beyond 2036, keeping the 2040 and 2044 Summer Olympics on the table as part of ongoing dialogues about the future hosting schedule.

The confirmed pipeline for upcoming Summer Games currently places the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, followed by the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane, Australia.