PARIS: India, Qatar and South Africa are among seven countries interested in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tuesday.
Germany, Hungary, Turkiye and South Korea make up the rest of the current list.
Other countries have until October 31 to formally declare their interest in hosting the Games.
The IOC Executive Board will prepare a shortlist of interested countries in March 2027. The shortlisted candidates will then enter talks with the Olympic body.
The IOC will assess the candidates on factors including funding and political and public support.
“Wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said.
She added that every future host must focus on providing athletes with the best possible experience.
India Plans First Olympic Bid
India has expressed its intention to host the Olympics for the first time.
The country plans to centre its bid on Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ahmedabad will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The event is expected to serve as an important test ahead of a possible Olympic bid.
The city is also home to the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Qatar and South Africa Seek Olympic Games
South Africa has hosted major sporting events, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
However, the country has never hosted the Olympics.
Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The tournament later faced allegations of corruption involving football’s world governing body, FIFA.
If Qatar wins the Olympic bid, organisers would likely need to move the Games away from the traditional July-August period because of extreme summer heat.
Germany, Turkiye and South Korea in Race
Germany’s National Olympic Committee voted last month to select Munich as its candidate city.
Munich would host the Games 100 years after the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which took place under Nazi rule.
Turkiye is also hoping to win the right to host the Olympics.
Istanbul finished second to Tokyo in the bidding for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
South Korea is the seventh country on the IOC’s current list of interested bidders.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, while Brisbane will host the 2032 Games.
