India Among Seven Countries in Race to Host 2036 Olympics

India has moved into the next stage of its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirming that it is among seven countries currently in continuous dialogue over the mega sporting event.

The other interested countries are Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Turkiye. All seven have been invited to present their Games projects to the IOC’s Future Host Commission in November.

The IOC will assess the proposals on factors including the venue master plan, athlete experience, funding strategy, political and public support, Games-delivery capabilities and long-term legacy for host communities. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said athletes must remain at the centre of the process.

For India, Ahmedabad has been identified as the potential host city. India submitted its Expression of Interest in 2024, seeking to host the Olympics for the first time. The country's proposal has been linked to plans to develop Olympic-standard sporting infrastructure in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

The latest development follows a revamp of the IOC's host-selection process after Coventry paused the earlier process to seek fresh feedback from member nations. Under the revised roadmap, the IOC Executive Board will draw up a shortlist in March 2027, with selected candidates moving into a Strategic Dialogue phase involving detailed assessments of venues, governance, financing and Games-delivery plans.

The process will continue through 2027 and 2028, with preferred host candidates expected to be identified in 2028. The final host is expected to be elected at an IOC Session in mid-2029. Countries still interested in entering the race have until October 31, 2026 to declare their interest.

India faces competition from countries with their own ambitions. South Africa is seeking to become the first African country to host the Olympics, while Qatar wants to become the first Muslim-majority host. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics, followed by Brisbane in 2032.