IOC targets mid-2029 to elect 2036 Olympics host city

The International Olympic Committee approved a new timetable on Wednesday for selecting the host of the 2036 Summer Olympics, targeting mid-2029 for the final vote and introducing a new "Strategic Dialogue" phase aimed at increasing transparency in what has become a closely watched contest between India, Qatar, and other bidders.

New Three-Phase Process

The decision came at the 146th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, where members endorsed an overhaul of the host selection framework. Under the revised process, the IOC Executive Board will shortlist interested parties in March 2027 from a pool of cities already in "Continuous Dialogue" with the organization. Those shortlisted candidates will then enter the newly created Strategic Dialogue phase, during which they must answer the Future Host Questionnaire and submit core financial guarantees.indiatvnews+2

A "Targeted Dialogue" phase will follow in late 2028, requiring preferred hosts to update their submissions and provide a full set of legal and financial guarantees from their governments. The formal election of the 2036 host is expected at an IOC Session in mid-2029, at a venue yet to be determined.espn+2

Transparency Concerns Drive Reform

The changes follow IOC President Kirsty Coventry's decision last year to pause the 2036 selection process shortly after taking office, particularly as India appeared to be gaining momentum in its bid. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the IOC member overseeing the review, said all stakeholders had called for greater transparency in the process.apnews+1

"Interested Parties will be shortlisted for 'Strategic Dialogue' in March 2027 and will have to answer the Future Host Questionnaire and submit core financial guarantees before being considered for the final evaluation stage, known as Targeted Dialogue," the IOC stated.indiatvnews+1

India, Qatar Lead the Field

India and Qatar remain the frontrunners among a broader field that also includes Turkey, Indonesia, South Korea, and several other nations. India has proposed Ahmedabad as its host city, with a budget reported between $4 billion and $5 billion. Both Indian industrialist Nita Ambani and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani are IOC members. According to the Associated Press, the IOC previously raised concerns about governance within the Indian Olympic Association, doping infractions, and India's Olympic performance record.dw+4

Regions hoping to host in 2036 now need to engage formally with the IOC before the March 2027 shortlist deadline.gamesbids