BY ROSEMARY UGIOMOH
The International Olympic Committee regenerates how it will pick the 2036 Summer Games, aiming for more transparency and member involvement after the opaque, fast-track process that gave Brisbane the 2032 host spot 11 years early.
In Milan, IOC members held a panel led by former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović propose a new short-list phase that would require cities to submit detailed venue plans, financial guarantees, and past multi-sport event experience well before a final decision, with closed-door briefings and secure online updates for members to keep the process confidential but more accountable.
New IOC President Kirsty Coventry paused the 2036 race shortly after taking office in June 2026, launching a “Fit for the Future” review to tighten criteria and documentation, and to give members more regular updates and engagement opportunities, aiming to prevent perceptions of favoritism that plagued previous selections.
The competition is heating up with India (Ahmedabad) and Qatar (Doha) seen as front-runners, both boasting high percentages of existing infrastructure, while other countries like Turkey, Hungary, Germany, Chile, and Indonesia are also in the mix, though some face hurdles like Israel athlete restrictions .
The IOC’s next session in June 2026 is expected to formalize the new process and restart the 2036 host selection, promising a more open and structured contest.
