Map Shows 7 Countries Bidding for 2036 Olympics
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Seven countries are competing to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, with several hoping to bring the event to their country for the first time.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Tuesday that Germany , Hungary , India, Qatar , South Korea , South Africa and Turkey have put themselves forward to host the Games and are in ongoing discussions with Olympic officials.
The announcement follows changes to the host selection process, with the IOC outlining a timetable that will culminate in a final vote in 2029. Under the new process, countries have until October 31 to declare their interest. Those already in discussions will present their proposals in November, before the IOC draws up a shortlist in March 2027. Preferred hosts will be selected for further negotiations in December 2028, with IOC members expected to elect the host in mid-2029.
The IOC will assess proposals based on factors including sporting facilities, funding, political and public support, and the long-term benefits for host communities.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said: "But wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: Athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do."
Here are the seven countries seeking to host the 2036 Olympics and the cities involved in their proposals.
Munich, the capital of Bavaria in southern Germany, is seeking to host the Summer Olympics for a second time, having previously staged the event in 1972. The city was selected by the German Olympic Sports Confederation on September 26, beating a rival proposal from the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr region.
Germany is considering hosting the Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044, with its proposal citing plenty of existing sporting infrastructure and little need for new construction. Munich's Olympic Park, originally built for the 1972 Games would be where approximately half of the competitions would take place.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation has also proposed using locations including the English Garden and Nymphenburg Palace to bring sporting events into the city.
Hungary's capital, Budapest, is hoping to host its first Olympics after several previous unsuccessful attempts. Located on the Danube River in Central Europe, the city has hosted several sporting competitions, including the 2022 World Aquatics Championships and the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
According to Euronews , Hungary's emerging proposal emphasizes using existing sporting facilities rather than constructing expensive new venues. Plans under consideration could also involve staging some competitions outside Hungary, including in neighboring Austria and Slovakia.
Hungarian Olympic Committee President Zsolt Gyulay has called for discussions between the Budapest city government and national officials about the feasibility of hosting the Games. However, political support for the project remains uncertain following Hungary's change of government earlier this year.
India is campaigning to host its first Olympic Games, with Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat proposed as its host city.
The city is already preparing to stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games , having been formally confirmed as the host in November 2025. Ahmedabad is also home to the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world's largest cricket stadium, which hosted the final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed support for India's Olympic ambitions, describing a successful bid as an opportunity to expand sporting infrastructure and encourage greater participation in athletics. During a speech in August , Modi reiterated the government's desire to host the 2036 Games and outlined plans to identify and develop young sporting talent across the country.
Qatar is seeking to bring the Olympics to the Middle East for the first time. The country previously hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2006 Asian Games, and is scheduled to host the Asian Games again in 2030. Qatar has flagged its existing sports facilities in Doha and experience staging international competitions as strengths of its proposal.
Following the IOC's announcement, Fatima Al Kuwari, CEO of the Doha 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Bid Committee, said the country hoped to build on its record of hosting major events and deliver a model focused on athletes and long-term benefits.
"This is just the beginning of a long journey in which we hope to build on Qatar’s proven track record of hosting major international events," she said. "We believe Doha 2036 would offer a future-ready model for the Games that is athlete-centred, connected, accessible and designed to ensure that sport and society emerge stronger long after 2036."
One potential challenge is Qatar's extremely hot summer climate. A Doha Olympics would likely require the event to move outside its traditional July and August schedule, as happened with the 2022 World Cup.
South Korea is hoping to stage the Summer Olympics for a second time, following the 1988 Games in Seoul. It also hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
In February 2025, North Jeolla Province, in southwestern South Korea, defeated Seoul in the country's domestic selection process, proposing the provincial city of Jeonju as the main host.
However, concerns about inadequate accommodation, transport links and sporting facilities have prompted provincial officials to explore jointly hosting the Games with Seoul, approximately 200 kilometers to the north.
On October 7, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said he was willing to accept a joint hosting proposal, although the precise arrangements have yet to be agreed. The mayor also questioned whether the International Olympic Committee would approve a proposal requiring athletes and spectators to travel between the two locations.
South Africa is seeking to make…
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