India among 7 countries interested in hosting 2036 Olympics: International Olympic Committee

India is among seven countries currently interested in hosting the 2036 Olympics, with Ahmedabad identified as its potential host city. The IOC has now outlined a new process and timeline for selecting the Games host.India among 7 countries interested in hosting 2036 Olympics (Reuter Photo for representation)New Delhi,Oct 6, 2026 16:44 ISTIndia is among seven countries currently interested in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday, as it laid out a new roadmap for selecting the host.Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Trkiye are currently in what the IOC calls "Continuous Dialogue" over their plans to host the Games. The seven have been invited to present their projects to the IOC's Future Host Commission in November.The 2028 Olympics will be hosted by Los Angeles and the 2032 Games will be hosted by Brisbane.The announcement gives greater clarity to India's pursuit of the 2036 Olympics, with Ahmedabad identified as the potential host city. India formally submitted its Expression of Interest to host the Games in 2024, but the selection process was subsequently put on hold after Kirsty Coventry took over as IOC president and initiated a review of the process. The IOC has now published a handbook outlining the next stages of the 2036 host selection process. The process will involve a series of assessments and discussions before IOC members eventually elect the host.The first deadline is October 31, after which no new Interested Parties will be considered for the 2036 Games.The seven countries currently in Continuous Dialogue will make virtual presentations to the Future Host Commission in November.The IOC will then carry out feasibility assessments of the projects, with the Executive Board expected to open the Strategic Dialogue phase by March 2027. This will involve a more focused examination of the bids that make it through the initial assessment.In December 2028, the IOC plans to invite the Preferred Hosts into a Targeted Dialogue.The host city for the 2036 Olympics is expected to be elected by IOC members in mid-2029.The revised process is part of the IOC's wider "Fit for the Future" reforms, whose principles were approved by the Executive Board and endorsed by the 146th IOC Session in Lausanne in June this year. The changes build on the dialogue-based approach introduced in 2019 and are overseen by the Future Host Commission. For India, the next phase will involve demonstrating that its proposed Games plan is financially viable, technically sound and capable of delivering a strong experience for athletes and spectators.The IOC said the projects will be assessed on several technical factors, including the venue masterplan, athlete experience, funding strategy, political and public support, Games delivery capabilities and plans for creating a long-term legacy for host communities.The candidates will also be assessed on their overall vision for the Games and how closely that vision aligns with local development plans as well as the wider objectives of the Olympic Movement.Coventry, a five-time Olympian, stressed that the athlete experience would remain central to the process."I was fortunate to compete at five Olympic Games, across four continents. Each had their own character," Coventry said."But wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do."GATHERING MOMENTUMIndia's pursuit of the 2036 Olympics has gathered momentum over the past two years. The country submitted its formal Expression of Interest in 2024, while a high-level Indian delegation visited the IOC headquarters in Lausanne in 2025 to discuss its plans.The delegation was led by Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghvi and included Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, Sports Secretary Hariranjan Rao, Gujarat Chief Sports Secretary Ashwini Kumar and Urban Secretary Thennarasan.The visit came shortly after Coventry announced a "pause and review" of the host selection process following her election as IOC president. The review was aimed at taking fresh feedback from IOC members and streamlining the process.India's Olympic ambitions also extend beyond 2036. The Commonwealth Games 2030 will be hosted by India, while Ahmedabad is being positioned as the potential centre of India's Olympic proposal.However, India is still at an early stage of the 2036 race. Being listed among the seven Interested Parties does not mean it has been shortlisted as a final candidate or secured the Games. The countries will now have to develop and defend their respective projects through the IOC's new multi-stage process.With the seven Interested Parties now confirmed, the next major milestone for India will be its presentation to the Future Host Commission in November.- Ends