India and Qatar have officially expressed their aspirations to host the 2036 Olympics, as confirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday. They are among the seven bidders competing for the opportunity to host the prestigious event. The IOC is planning to make a decision on the host city in 2029 through a vote by its 100-plus members.
In addition to India and Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary, and Turkey are also engaged in discussions about potential future hosting opportunities for the 2040 and possibly the 2044 editions of the Olympics. IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasized the importance of keeping athletes at the forefront of all decisions related to the Games.
The IOC has set a deadline of October 31 for other national Olympic bodies to join the bidding process for the 2036 Olympics. India’s bid is centered around Ahmedabad, which is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and is home to the world’s largest cricket stadium named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Qatar, known for hosting various world championships in top-tier Olympic sports, including the upcoming 2022 World Cup, is also vying to host the 2036 Olympics. If successful, this would likely require a shift in the traditional July-August timeframe for the Summer Games, which has been the standard since 2004.
The IOC’s executive board, led by President Coventry, is expected to finalize a shortlist of candidate cities in March for further development of their hosting proposals. The target for the final vote to determine the 2036 host aligns with the IOC’s historical schedule for selecting Summer Games hosts, marking a return to a more traditional process.
The decision timeline is later than initially anticipated, as Coventry opted to halt the expedited selection process that led to Brisbane being named the host city for the 2032 Olympics without a competitive vote. Last year, India and Qatar had shown eagerness for a rapid decision, showcasing their bid plans during the 2024 Olympics in Paris.