NEW DELHI: India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics gained more clarity on Wednesday after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a revised host selection process that will culminate in the announcement of the winning bid in mid-2029.At the 146th session of the IOC in Lausanne, the members approved the proposal of the president of the Commission for the future host and former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to introduce a new phase of “strategic dialogue” in the selection process. The goal of this move is to increase transparency and provide greater clarity to the countries that want to host the Games. “Potential hosts wanted greater clarity. All stakeholders wanted greater transparency,” said Grabar-Kitarović, describing the changes. She added that the goal is to identify and choose the host of the 2036 Olympic Games by the middle of 2029.The decision is significant for India, which formally entered the race by submitting its Letter of Intent in 2024 and is currently engaged in the IOC’s Continuous Dialogue Phase. Ahmedabad remains the proposed host city for India’s ambitious Olympic project.
Financial guarantees, site visit and final assessment
Under the revised process, interested parties will first proceed in a continuous dialogue phase before a shortlist is drawn up in March 2027.“Interested parties will be shortlisted for the ‘Strategic Dialogue’ in March 2027 and will have to respond to the Prospective Host Questionnaire and submit basic financial guarantees before being considered for the final evaluation phase, known as the Targeted Dialogue,” the IOC stated.The strategic dialogue phase will require candidate countries to provide initial responses to the MOC questionnaire, demonstrate financial support and meet requirements related to cost control, project delivery timelines and infrastructure planning. The Prospective Host Committee will also conduct site visits to evaluate proposed sites and host city plans.“During this new transition phase they will be expected to provide an initial response to the Prospective Host Questionnaire and basic financial guarantees,” the IOC said.After this stage, the shortlisted candidates will advance to the targeted dialogue stage in 2028, which will effectively serve as the final part of the race.
The IOC will finalize hosting the 2036 Olympics in mid-2029
“The desired host will have to update its submission. It will also have to submit a complete set of guarantees. The final decision on the host of the 2036 Games will be made at the session in mid-2029,” said Grabar-Kitarović.She further emphasized that potential hosts will have to provide “a full set of guarantees, in order to provide maximum legal and financial security”.India faces strong competition from Qatar, while Turkey and South Africa are also expected to be among the contenders. At the end of the targeted dialogue phase, the IOC Executive Board will identify the desired hosts and put them up for election before the IOC session.The process of selecting the host of the Olympic Games was paused last year by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who, following feedback from IOC members, called for wider consultations with potential hosts.
