India Enters Crucial Phase in Race to Host 2036 Olympics as IOC Names Seven Contenders
India’s ambition to host the Olympic Games for the first time has moved into a significant new phase after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that the country is among seven nations currently pursuing the 2036 Summer Olympics. The announcement has brought greater clarity to India’s bid, with Ahmedabad identified as the proposed centre of the country’s Olympic plan.
The other countries currently in continuous dialogue with the IOC are Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye. The seven prospective hosts have been invited to present their Games projects to the IOC’s Future Host Commission in November, marking the next major step in the selection process.
India’s Olympic Ambition Takes Shape
India formally entered the process with an Expression of Interest in 2024 through the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The proposal has since progressed through the IOC’s Continuous Dialogue process, while Indian representatives have held discussions with the Olympic body regarding the country’s plans and preparations.
Ahmedabad is at the centre of the proposal. The city is also set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, giving India an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to organise a major multi-sport international event before the IOC makes its decision on the 2036 Olympics.
The Narendra Modi Stadium and other existing and planned sporting facilities are expected to form part of the wider sporting infrastructure associated with Ahmedabad’s development as an international sports hub. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are also being viewed as an important opportunity to strengthen infrastructure, event-management capabilities and sporting facilities ahead of the Olympic bid.
Seven Nations Competing for the 2036 Games
India faces competition from six other nations with varied Olympic ambitions. Germany, which has selected Munich as its candidate city, has previous experience of hosting the Summer Olympics. South Korea has also hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
Türkiye is seeking another opportunity through Istanbul, while Hungary is pursuing the Games for the first time. Qatar, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2006 Asian Games, is also among the contenders. South Africa, meanwhile, is seeking to become the first African country to host the Summer Olympics after successfully staging the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The field could still expand. The IOC has set October 31, 2026, as the deadline for other National Olympic Committees to declare their interest in hosting the 2036 Games. After that date, no new interested parties will be considered for the edition.
IOC Sets New Roadmap for Selecting the Host
The IOC has introduced a more structured process for evaluating the prospective hosts. The seven countries currently involved in Continuous Dialogue will make virtual presentations to the Future Host Commission in November. These proposals will then undergo feasibility assessments before the process moves towards a more focused Strategic Dialogue.
The IOC will examine several aspects of each project, including venue master plans, athlete experience, funding arrangements, political and public support, Games-delivery capabilities and the long-term legacy that the event could create for host communities. The overall vision of each proposal and its alignment with local development plans will also be considered.
The Executive Board is expected to begin the Strategic Dialogue phase by March 2027. Preferred hosts are expected to be identified in 2028, followed by a Targeted Dialogue phase. The final host is expected to be elected by IOC members in mid-2029.
Athlete Experience to Remain a Key Priority
IOC President Kirsty Coventry has placed particular emphasis on athletes in the revised selection process. The IOC has said that regardless of where the Games are held, the experience and requirements of athletes will remain central to the planning and evaluation of every proposal.
This means potential hosts will have to demonstrate more than their ability to build venues and arrange financing. Their proposals will also need to show how athletes can receive high-quality accommodation, training, transportation and competition facilities, while the Games themselves create a meaningful long-term legacy.
For India, this makes the upcoming presentation to the Future Host Commission particularly important. The country will have to present a detailed and credible vision showing how Ahmedabad and the wider proposed Games infrastructure could support an event of the scale and complexity of the Olympics.
2030 Commonwealth Games Could Strengthen Ahmedabad’s Case
The 2030 Commonwealth Games could become an important milestone in India’s wider Olympic ambitions. Ahmedabad’s selection as the proposed host for the Commonwealth Games provides an opportunity to develop and test sporting infrastructure, transportation systems, hospitality facilities and event-management capabilities.
India’s policy institutions have also highlighted the potential economic and industrial opportunities associated with hosting major sporting events. A recent NITI Aayog report noted that the 2036 Olympic ambition could create additional demand for Indian sports-equipment manufacturing and encourage domestic companies to strengthen their capabilities and competitiveness.
This could make the Olympic project broader than a sporting event alone, with potential implications for tourism, infrastructure, manufacturing, employment and the development of India’s wider sporting ecosystem.
India’s Bid Enters a Decisive Stage
India’s inclusion among the seven countries in Continuous Dialogue is an important step, but it does not mean the country has been shortlisted as the final host. The competing nations must now demonstrate that their proposals are financially sustainable, technically feasible and capable of delivering a successful Games.
The November presentation will therefore be an important test for India’s Olympic proposal. The subsequent feasibility assessment and Strategic Dialogue will determine how the bid progresses through the IOC’s selection framework.
With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics and Brisbane hosting the 2032 Games, the 2036 edition represents a significant opportunity for a new region to take centre stage in the Olympic movement.
The MGMM Outlook
India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games has entered an important stage after the International Olympic Committee confirmed that India is among seven countries currently in Continuous Dialogue for the event. With Ahmedabad at the centre of the proposed plan, the upcoming presentation to the IOC’s Future Host Commission in November will be a key opportunity to showcase India’s infrastructure, sporting facilities, event-management capabilities and long-term vision. The 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad could further provide valuable experience in preparing for a major international multi-sport event.
The 2036 Olympic race will also test how effectively India can present a financially sustainable, athlete-focused and long-term plan. The IOC is expected to assess factors ranging from venues and funding to athlete experience, public support and the legacy for host communities. India’s inclusion among the seven contenders is therefore a significant milestone, while the next stages of evaluation will determine how far the proposal advances. If developed successfully, the broader Olympic effort could also support sports infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing and the growth of India’s sporting ecosystem.
(Sources: India Today, Indian Express, Hindustan Times)
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