International Olympic Committee Confirms Seven Bidders Including India and Qatar for 2036 Olympics Hosting Race

Key facts

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Tuesday that India and Qatar are among seven bidders in the race to host the 2036 Olympics, with South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Turkey also in talks for the 2040 and 2044 editions.
• The IOC aims to decide the 2036 host in 2029 through a contested vote of its 100-plus members, and set an October 31 deadline for other national Olympic bodies to join the contest.
• India's bid plan centres on Ahmedabad, which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and has the world's largest cricket stadium named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Qatar has hosted world championships in most top-tier Olympic sports, including soccer's 2022 World Cup, and its bid could expand from Doha to send some events to Gulf neighbours.
• In March, the executive board chaired by IOC President Kirsty Coventry will approve a shortlist of candidates to develop detailed projects.
• Coventry's first major decision after taking office in June 2025 was to pause the fast-track process that had allowed Brisbane to be chosen as the 2032 host 11 years in advance without a contested vote.