India has moved another step forward in its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, with the country among seven nations invited to present their proposed Games projects to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission.
The IOC on Tuesday confirmed that India, Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Turkiye are currently in continuous dialogue with the governing body regarding their interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics.
The interested parties have been invited to present their projects to the Future Host Commission in November.
India among 7 countries in 2036 Olympics race
The IOC said the proposals will be assessed across several important areas before the host selection process progresses. These include the proposed venue master plan, athlete experience, funding strategy, political and public support, Games delivery capabilities and the long-term legacy of the Olympics for host communities.
The IOC, however, has not announced the exact dates for the presentations. It has also stated that no new interested parties will be considered for the 2036 Olympics after October 31.
Ahmedabad is India’s preferred host city
India has selected Ahmedabad as its preferred city to host the 2036 Olympic Games. The country formally submitted its Expression of Interest to host the Olympics in 2024. If successful, India would host the Olympic Games for the first time in its history.
The bid will be led by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in coordination with the Gujarat government and with support from the Union Sports Ministry.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry stresses Athlete experience
IOC President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the importance of putting athletes at the centre of any future Olympic Games project.
“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,” Coventry said.
She added that the experience of athletes must remain the starting point for every future host.
“But wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do,” she said.
Coventry also stressed that athletes spend years working towards their Olympic dream and that their experience at the Games remains with them for the rest of their lives.
2036 Olympics host to be decided in 2029
The IOC’s process for selecting the host city was previously paused following the election of Kirsty Coventry as IOC president.
Coventry had indicated that fresh feedback would be sought from IOC members as part of efforts to streamline the host selection process
The host of the 2036 Olympics is expected to be announced in mid-2029. Apart from the seven countries currently in continuous dialogue, the IOC said it is also holding “non-committal talks” with several National Olympic Committees about hosting Olympic Games beyond 2036.
For India, the upcoming presentation will be an important step in its ambition to bring the world’s biggest sporting event to the country for the first time.
