India has moved into the next phase of its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed seven countries as interested parties in staging the global sporting event.
Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye are currently participating in the IOC’s Continuous Dialogue process for the 2036 Games. The confirmation followed the October 31, 2026, deadline for additional National Olympic Committees to express interest in entering discussions for this edition.
India is pursuing the opportunity to host the Olympics for the first time. Ahmedabad in Gujarat has been identified as the proposed centre of the country’s hosting plan.
IOC Outlines Next Steps
The seven interested parties have been invited to make virtual presentations to the IOC’s Future Host Commission in November 2026. The presentations will help the commission assess each country’s proposed vision and plans for hosting the Games.
The IOC expects to complete feasibility assessments by March 2027. The Executive Board is then scheduled to open a Strategic Dialogue with potential hosts, allowing a more detailed examination of their proposals.
The evaluation will consider venue and infrastructure plans, athlete experience, funding strategies, political and public support, the ability to deliver the Games and plans for creating a lasting legacy for host communities.
The process forms part of the IOC’s “Fit for the Future” reforms, which aim to improve the selection process and place greater emphasis on the experience of athletes and the long-term benefits of hosting the Olympics.
Ahmedabad at the Centre of India’s Bid
Ahmedabad is central to India’s proposal, supported by the country’s plans to expand sports infrastructure and host major international competitions. The city is also associated with India’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
India formally submitted its Expression of Interest to host the 2036 Olympics in 2024. The country’s proposal will need to demonstrate how it can meet the Games’ requirements for sporting venues, transport, accommodation, financing and operational planning.
Hosting the Olympics would require substantial coordination between central and state governments, sporting bodies and infrastructure agencies. The long-term use of venues and the financial sustainability of the Games are also expected to be important considerations.
Host Decision Expected in 2029
The IOC plans to invite a select group of Preferred Hosts into a final Targeted Dialogue in December 2028. These candidates will be expected to provide detailed proposals, along with the required legal and financial guarantees.
IOC members are expected to elect the host of the 2036 Olympic Games in mid-2029.
Being included among the seven interested parties does not mean India has been shortlisted as a final candidate or secured the Games. The country must progress through the IOC’s evaluation stages before a host is selected.
For India, the coming months will be important in developing its proposal and demonstrating its capacity to stage an event involving thousands of athletes, officials and visitors from around the world.
