India's bid to host the 2036 Olympics will face a new IOC evaluation process, with the final host city set to be chosen in mid-2029. According to reports from Business Standard, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the addition of a Strategic Dialogue phase in the host selection process during their 146th Session in Lausanne on Wednesday. The new process was proposed by IOC's Future Host Commission chair, former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who stated that potential hosts wanted greater clarity and all stakeholders wanted greater transparency. As per Business Standard, the decision was announced during the IOC's 146th Session in Lausanne, where Future Host Commission chair Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic unveiled a new three-stage framework for choosing future Olympic hosts.
As reported by Business Standard, interested parties will be short-listed 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. The candidate cities will also need to meet criteria related to cost control and clear time-lines for completion of project milestones. The Targetted Dialogue phase will begin in 2028, with the final decision on the host for the 2036 Games to be taken at the session in mid-2029. According to the IOC, the reformed process is intended to make bidding more cost-efficient while giving governments greater planning certainty and sufficient time to build public support for their projects.
According to Business Standard, India faces its biggest competition from Qatar while bids are also expected from Turkey and South Africa. India is currently in the Continuous Dialogue stage with the IOC after submitting its Letter of Intent to host the 2036 Games in 2024. The Olympic host selection process was put on hold last year by IOC chief Kirsty Coventry, citing the need for greater dialogue with potential hosts following feedback from member nations. India is aiming to host the 2036 Games in Ahmedabad. As per the IOC, the reformed process is intended to give potential hosts greater clarity and their governments will have a clear timetable to provide the requested support.
As reported by Business Standard, the new process includes regular touch-points between the IOC membership, the Future Host Commission and the Interested Parties or Preferred Hosts. These will include presentations at IOC Sessions and briefings at other times throughout the process. The Future Host Commission will also make site visits to the proposed host cities during the Strategic Dialogue phase. At the end of the Targetted Dialogue, the IOC Members will receive a report from the Future Host Commission, following which the IOC Executive Board will select Preferred Hosts to be put forward for election by the IOC Session to become the host of the 2036 Olympic Games. According to Business Standard, the next stage, known as Targeted Dialogue, will begin in 2028 for shortlisted candidates, with preferred hosts required to update their submissions and submit full set of guarantees.
