India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics has entered a decisive phase, with the International Olympic Committee laying down a clear roadmap for selecting the host and placing technical readiness, athlete experience and long-term legacy at the centre of the process. The International Olympic Committee has published its handbook for potential 2036 Olympic hosts, formally outlining the pathway that interested National Olympic Committees must follow before the host is elected in 2029.
India is among seven NOCs currently involved in continuous dialogue with the IOC, alongside Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye. The latest development gives India’s Olympic ambition a defined timeline, although the country still has several stages to clear before a final decision is made. Reuters reported that the IOC expects to draw up a shortlist in March 2027, with preferred host or hosts to emerge through the subsequent dialogue process before the final election in 2029.
For India, the significance of the process goes beyond simply securing the Games. The country is seeking to host the Olympics for the first time, with Ahmedabad widely associated with India’s 2036 Olympic plans. India is also looking to strengthen its credentials by pursuing other major international sporting events in the years leading up to the proposed Games.
The IOC’s assessment will cover several areas. These include the proposed venue masterplan, athlete experience, funding strategy, political and public support, Games delivery capabilities and the potential long-term legacy for host communities. The candidates will also be assessed on their vision for the Games and whether their plans align with local development priorities as well as the wider objectives of the Olympic Movement. That makes the process considerably broader than a conventional infrastructure assessment.
A prospective host will have to demonstrate not only that it can stage thousands of athletes across multiple sports, but also that the Games can deliver a sustainable legacy beyond the closing ceremony. IOC President Kirsty Coventry stressed the importance of athletes remaining at the centre of the process. “I was fortunate to compete at five Olympic Games, across four continents. Each had their own character,” said IOC president Kirsty Coventry.
“Each host brought something unique through its people, its culture and the way it chose to stage the Games. But wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do… That is why, for every future host, delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point.”
The IOC’s revised process is part of a broader effort to make future host selections more collaborative and focused on long-term planning. The organisation’s strategic direction was endorsed at its 146th Session in Lausanne in June 2026. The first major checkpoint will arrive in 2027, when the IOC’s technical assessment process begins and the field is expected to be narrowed.
The next significant stage comes in December 2028, when the IOC Executive Board is expected to open targeted dialogue with a select group of preferred hosts. The final decision will then be taken by IOC Members at an IOC Session scheduled for mid-2029. India therefore has almost three years to demonstrate that its Olympic vision is technically viable, financially credible and capable of creating a meaningful legacy.
Being among the seven interested parties is an important milestone, but it is only the beginning of India’s Olympic journey. The next stage will require the country to move from ambition to evidence. The IOC’s criteria make clear that a successful bid cannot rely solely on India’s sporting market, population or enthusiasm for the Games. The proposal will have to answer practical questions around venues, transport, accommodation, financing, athlete services, sustainability and what happens to the infrastructure after 2036.
India’s performance at major multi-sport events will also remain part of the wider sporting conversation. The country enters the 2026 Asian Games after winning a record 107 medals at Hangzhou in 2023, and its Olympic ambitions are increasingly linked with the broader development of its high-performance sporting ecosystem. For now, India remains firmly in the race, but there is no guarantee of selection. Germany, Hungary, Qatar, South Korea, South Africa and Türkiye bring their own sporting infrastructure, experience and ambitions to the process.
The countdown to the 2036 Olympics host decision has therefore begun. India’s next challenge is no longer simply to say it wants the Games. It is to convince the IOC that it can deliver them.
