South Africa, India, and Qatar were officially included on Tuesday in the list of seven countries that have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics.
The remaining countries on the current list presented by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) include Germany, Hungary, Turkey, and South Korea. Other nations have until October 31 to announce their interest.
The IOC stated that criteria such as financial backing, as well as support from political circles and the public, will be applied to the selection of the 2036 hosts. IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasized that regardless of the host city, athletes must remain at the center of all events.
India has declared its intention to host the Olympic Games for the first time, focusing on the city of Ahmedabad, which is in the state of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ahmedabad will also host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, which is considered serious preparation for the Olympic Games. This city is home to the world's largest cricket stadium.
South Africa previously hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the Rugby World Cup in 1995, but has never been an Olympic host. Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, although the awarding of this tournament was later overshadowed by allegations of corruption within the global governing body of football, FIFA.
Hosting the Olympic Games in Persian Gulf countries would require postponing the traditional July-August period due to high temperatures. The German National Olympic Committee voted last month for Munich as a candidate to host the Games, which will take place one hundred years after the infamous Berlin Olympics of 1936, held under the Nazi regime.
Turkish sports authorities hope to surpass the results achieved when applying for the 2020 Summer Olympics, when Istanbul lost to Tokyo. It should be noted that the 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, and Brisbane has been awarded the right to host the Games in 2032.