The 2036 Olympic host city race heats up worldwide as candidate cities from five continents gather.

Countries hoping to host the Olympics are more interested than ever before. In Asia, only Japan, China, and South Korea have hosted the Summer Olympics, but for the 2036 Olympics, an unprecedented number of emerging countries and regions are vying to host. After the Brisbane 2032 Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been implementing fundamental reforms to the host city selection process, encouraging more global bids.

Currently, five cities have officially submitted bids, with more than five others showing strong interest. Unlike previous years, fewer candidates are coming from Western Europe, while the Middle East, Asia, and South America are showing increased enthusiasm. Hungary, Germany, and Copenhagen are still in the preliminary research phase and have not yet officially bid.

Why is interest in the 2036 Olympics so high now?

Recently, the IOC has focused on simplifying procedures, which has significantly changed the bidding process. Moving away from the old “one-time application” approach, the IOC now favors a “permanent, ongoing dialogue,” involving multiple negotiations similar to interviews. This shift reflects the IOC’s new stance of not producing too many losers in the host selection.

Another notable change is the diversification of hosting formats. Traditionally, the Olympics were held in a single city, but now multiple cities or regions can host together. As seen with the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, this new model can greatly reduce the infrastructure burden on the host country.

Geographic diversity of bidders: emerging countries accelerate the race to host

The biggest feature of the 2036 host city race is its geographic diversity. Since 1970, Europe and Asia have hosted most Olympics, but the 2036 candidate list shows rapid development in the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia.

These regions have built a solid foundation for hosting large international sports events over the past decade, hosting major competitions one after another. As a result, the traditional “privilege of developed countries” is gradually fading, and any region with high-quality infrastructure is now being considered as a potential host.

Doha (Qatar): Sixth attempt from the Middle East’s sports hub

Doha has rapidly established itself as the “sports capital of the Middle East” and is a strong candidate for the 2036 Olympics. Despite multiple previous unsuccessful bids, Qatar has hosted the World Athletics Championships, Gymnastics World Championships, and Swimming World Championships, demonstrating its ability to organize large international events.

The nine football stadiums built for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and extensive hotel facilities already provide the infrastructure needed for the Olympics. In this bid, Qatar emphasizes utilizing existing facilities and committing to long-term sustainability through new projects, aiming to turn past setbacks into success.

Ahmedabad (India): Ambition for India’s first Olympics

India has hosted the Commonwealth Games but has yet to host the Summer Olympics. The emergence of Ahmedabad, a major city in Gujarat, as a candidate for 2036 marks a significant shift in India’s sports development strategy.

The President of the Indian Olympic Association, PT Usha, states that the Games would “impact all Indians across generations.” French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed support for India’s bid and promised to transfer expertise from the Paris 2024 organizing committee, boosting the bid’s international credibility.

Istanbul (Turkey): A city at the crossroads of history and modernity

Istanbul, straddling the Bosporus Strait, is making its sixth bid for the Olympics. Past failures were mainly due to complex transportation infrastructure, but the city is now actively addressing these issues.

By successfully hosting multi-sport events like the 2027 European Games, Istanbul aims to prove its capacity to organize the Olympics. Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu states, “The enthusiasm of our citizens is at the heart of our bid,” emphasizing strong grassroots support for hosting the Games.

Nusantara (Indonesia): Bold bid from a developing city under construction

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, has never hosted the Olympics, making it a “sleeping giant” in sports. The bid from Nusantara, a new capital city under construction, surprised many.

Although the city is still being built, Indonesia initially considered bidding for 2032 but made limited progress. Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo suggests a phased approach, starting with hosting the 2030 Youth Olympics. Facilities are being planned across multiple cities like Jakarta and Palembang, with confidence that “if we prepare seriously, we can host the Olympics.”

Santiago (Chile): Aiming to return to South America

Since Rio 2016, South America has not hosted the Olympics. Chile, having successfully hosted the 2023 Pan American Games, is proposing to bring the Olympics back to the continent in 2036.

With the Andes as a backdrop, Chile has demonstrated its ability to organize world-class events. President Gabriel Boric declares, “Chile has the right to dream bigger,” and expresses national support for hosting the Olympics.

Other potential candidates: South Korea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

While five cities have officially bid, more candidates are expected. Jeollabuk-do in South Korea recently gained attention by surpassing Seoul in the national bidding race. Egyptian cities may also submit bids, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has announced hosting its first e-sports event in 2027, steadily expanding its prospects as a future Olympic host.

Final decision process for the 2036 Olympics: IOC member voting period uncertain

The final selection of the 2036 host city will be decided by a vote of over 100 IOC members worldwide. IOC President Kristalina Georgieva is still acclimating to her role and has indicated she does not want a rushed decision.

Although theoretically, voting could occur as early as 2027, it is more likely that the announcement will be made between 2027 and 2028. The IOC’s new “permanent dialogue” model is expected to extend negotiations between bid cities and the committee longer than before.