IOC Sets New Timeline for 2036 Bids

What's happened

The IOC has reset the timetable for future Olympic bids under president Kirsty Coventry, signaling a return to competitive shortlists after Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032) were chosen years in advance. Paris (2024) was selected seven years ahead, shaping a new cadence for bidding, with a potential eight bidders in the mix and a late-2028 targeted dialogue phase.

What's behind the headline?

What’s happening now

• The IOC is resetting the bidding timetable under Kirsty Coventry to encourage competitive bids. This follows the clear pattern of early selections for LA (2028) and Brisbane (2032).
• The executive board will begin with a short list for deeper evaluation, potentially eight bidders, and a late-2028 dialogue phase will require governments to guarantee legal and financial backing.
• Doha is highlighted as a strong candidate for a Doha-anchored 2036 Olympics, potentially sharing events with regional neighbors.

Why it matters

• A competitive process may lead to more robust project plans and cost controls, benefiting host cities and athletes.
• The timeline promises greater transparency, potentially diluting the influence of a single bidding bloc.

Forecast

• Late-2028 dialogue will narrow the field; mid-2029 IOC Session could decide the 2036 host, with further analyses in 2030–2031.

How we got here

The IOC has shifted to a more transparent, competitive process, with a timetable proposed to begin shortlisting in early 2027 and a 2036 host election possibly at the IOC Session in mid-2029. This follows Coventry’s ascent to the presidency and aims to broaden participation beyond a handful of pre-selected candidates.

Our analysis

AP News reports outline the timetable reset and potential bidders, noting Coventry’s presidency and the push for a more transparent, competitive process. The Independent quotes IOC member Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on the shape of the short list and the late-2028 dialogue phase. Doha is flagged as a potential strong bidder. All sources emphasize a new cadence designed to broaden participation.

Go deeper

• What cities are currently expressing interest for 2036?
• How will the late-2028 dialogue phase be funded and guaranteed by governments?
• What impact will this shift have on Paris-born 2024 prep and LA/Brisbane timelines?

More on these topics

• International Olympic Committee - Sports governing body

  The International Olympic Committee is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Founded by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas in 1894, it is the authority responsible for organising the modern Summer and Winter Olympic

• Qatar - Country in the Middle East

  Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

• Paris - Capital of France

  Paris is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,150,271 residents as of 2020, in an area of 105 square kilometres.

• Brisbane - City in Australia

  Brisbane is the capital of and the most populated city in the Australian state of Queensland, and the third most populous city in Australia.

• Los Angeles - Sport

  Test cricket is the form of the sport of cricket with the longest match duration, and is considered the game's highest standard.

• Thomas Bach - Lawyer

  Thomas Bach, OLY is a German lawyer and former Olympic fencer. Bach is the ninth and current President of the International Olympic Committee, and a former member of the German Olympic Sports Confederation Executive Board.

• Kirsty Coventry - Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation of Zimbabwe

  Kirsty Leigh Coventry Seward is the current Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe as of September 2018.

• Switzerland - Country in Europe

  Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a country situated in the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. It is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern.

• Lausanne - Capital city of the canton of Vaud, Switzerland

  Lausanne ( loh-ZAN, US also loh-ZAHN; French: [lozan] ; Arpitan: Losena [lɔˈzəna] ) is the capital and largest city of the Swiss French-speaking canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. The Olympic capital, it is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Gen