NEW DELHI: India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games received more clarity on Wednesday after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a revamped 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, members approved a proposal by the President of the Future Host Commission and former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to introduce a new phase of “Strategic Dialogue” in the selection process. The move is intended to increase transparency and provide greater clarity to nations vying to host the Games. “Potential hosts wanted greater clarity. All stakeholders wanted greater transparency,” Grabar-Kitarovic said as he outlined the changes. He added that the goal is to identify and elect the host of the 2036 Olympics by mid-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 guarantee, site visits and final assessment
Under the revised process, stakeholders will first continue in the Continuous Dialogue phase before a shortlist is drawn up in March 2027.“Interested Parties will be pre-selected for the ‘Strategic Dialogue’ in March 2027 and will have to answer the Questionnaire of Future Hosts and present core financial guarantees before being considered for the final evaluation phase, known as the Targeted Dialogue”, said the CIO.The Strategic Dialogue phase will require candidate nations to provide initial responses to the IOC questionnaire, demonstrate financial support and meet requirements regarding cost control, project delivery times and infrastructure planning. The Future Hosts Commission will also conduct site visits to evaluate proposed locations and host city plans.“During this new transition stage, they will be expected to provide an initial response to the Future Host Questionnaire and core financial guarantees,” the IOC said.After this phase, shortlisted candidates will advance to the Targeted Dialogue stage in 2028, which will effectively serve as the final stretch of the race.
IOC to finalize 2036 Olympic host by mid-2029
“The preferred hosts will have to update their submission. They will also have to present a complete set of guarantees. The final decision on the host for the 2036 Games will be taken at the session in mid-2029,” said Grabar-Kitarovic.She also emphasized that prospective guests would need to provide “a complete set of guarantees, to give 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 Dialogo Ciblé phase, the IOC Executive Council will identify the preferred hosts and put them before the IOC Session for election.The Olympic host selection process was paused last year by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who called for wider consultations with potential hosts following feedback from IOC members.