India, Qatar and Turkey join 2036 Olympic race

India, Qatar and Turkey have joined the early contest to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, adding three major bids to a field that also includes an African proposal from South Africa. The International Olympic Committee has opened a long selection process, with the final host still several years away.

Seven countries have so far expressed interest. India is proposing Ahmedabad, Qatar has put forward Doha and Turkey is represented by Istanbul. South Africa has identified Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, while Germany, Hungary and South Korea are proposing Munich, Budapest and Seoul respectively. Hosting the Games would be a first for India, Qatar, Turkey, South Africa and Hungary; Germany and South Korea have staged the Olympics before.

Potential bidders have until 31 October 2026 to declare their interest. The IOC plans to decide in March which parties can move from its continuing dialogue phase into a more focused strategic process. Candidates considered ready for the next stage will be invited into targeted discussions in December 2028.

The 2036 decision is expected seven years before the Games, later than the awards for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alps, Brisbane 2032 and Utah 2034, which were made six, 11 and 10 years in advance respectively. IOC president Kirsty Coventry has said future hosts must put athletes at the centre of the Olympic experience.