The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that South Africa is among seven nations interested in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics, aiming to become the first African host. Other interested countries include Hungary, India, Qatar, Turkey, Germany, and South Korea. All parties are in 'continuous dialogue' with the IOC, with a submission deadline of 31 October. Virtual presentations are scheduled for November, followed by feasibility assessments by March 2027.
South Africa's bid proposes hosting across three cities: Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. India's bid centers on Ahmedabad, which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and features the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi stadium. Hungary and Qatar are represented by their capitals, Budapest and Doha, respectively. Turkey's bid is anchored by Istanbul, which will host the 2027 European Games. Germany and South Korea, both previous Olympic hosts, are also in discussions. The IOC is also exploring future Games beyond 2036, with the UK government considering potential bids for the 2040s.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing