Qatar has been introduced as one of the candidates to host the 2036 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced this on Tuesday and referred to the seven countries currently in negotiations with the committee. Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, South Korea, South Africa, and Turkey have been identified as bidders for hosting this sporting event.
Details of the Host Selection Process
The International Olympic Committee has stated that these seven countries have been invited to present their projects to the future host commission in November 2026. Additionally, after October 31, 2026, no new countries will be considered for hosting the 2036 Olympics. This information has been detailed in a recently published 30-page document.
The principles of the host selection process have been approved by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee and confirmed at the 146th session of the committee in Lausanne in June 2026. The IOC will evaluate the proposed projects based on factors such as venue plans, sports experience, financing, political and public support, as well as the delivery of the games and long-term legacy for the host communities.
Hosting and Planning Challenges
The International Olympic Committee has also noted that it is in discussions with candidates for potential hosting in 2040 and 2044 as well. Greg Stanton, the IOC President, stated that each Olympics has its unique characteristics and each host brings a unique experience with its culture and people.
Qatar has previously hosted world championships in most Olympic sports and was also the host of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The country aims to use the Olympic hosting as an opportunity to enhance its global image and attract new tourists and investors.
India's proposed plans focus on the city of Ahmedabad, which will host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has the largest cricket stadium in the world named after Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. Additionally, South Korea's proposal is based on Seoul, which hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988.
Germany has also selected the city of Munich, which previously hosted the games in 1972, as its proposed location. Meanwhile, South Africa intends to be the first African host of the Summer Olympics since the inception of the modern Olympics in 1896, with a national proposal centered on Cape Town.
The proposals from Hungary and Turkey include Budapest and Istanbul, respectively, which are recognized as two major historical cities in these countries.
