If historic waterway settings are becoming essential for Olympic host cities, Istanbul’s mayor wants the IOC to recognize that his city has one. If hosting world championships in leading Olympic sports is crucial for securing the 2036 Summer Games, Qatar can highlight its achievements over the past decade. If the key to winning the IOC’s favor involves ambition, finances, and relationship-building, India’s bid, supported by the Ambani family and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is well-positioned. Saudi Arabia is also on a similar path, having secured a 12-year Esports Olympic Games hosting deal with the IOC in Paris, extending beyond the next available Summer Games.
If the 2036 Olympics are expected to go to Asia—following Paris, Los Angeles in 2028, and Brisbane in 2032—Indonesia will advocate for its case as a rapidly developing nation with a population of 280 million. In Paris, interested cities discreetly presented their bids in a process that has become more opaque and less of a campaign compared to the past, with quicker outcomes than the previous multi-candidate voting system used seven years before the Games. Brisbane won the 2032 bid 11 years in advance, beating out Qatar.
It is clear that the 2036 Olympics host will be decided long before 2029 and will be strongly influenced by the high standards set by Paris. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu told The Associated Press in Paris, “I mostly focus on what the IOC expects, what they dream of, what the world wants to see. Personally, I’m not really interested to know what city is the competitor.”
The IOC has mentioned it is in discussions with a “double-digit” number of cities or countries about hosting future Summer Games, possibly beyond 2036. Those who hosted hospitality houses in Paris recently have shown clear interest. At the opening of India House on July 27, IOC member Nita Ambani said hosting the Olympics was “a dream that belongs to 1.4 billion Indians.” The Ambani family, known for extravagant events, celebrated their son’s wedding in Mumbai with world leaders, A-list performers, and IOC members.
Qatar did not have a public hospitality venue, although Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended Paris for IOC meetings and the opening ceremony. Istanbul House opened in the final week of the Paris Olympics, reminding visitors of the city’s upcoming 2027 European Games.
“You are also competing with past Olympic Games experiences,” İmamoğlu remarked. “You need to exceed what has been done before.” Paris has demonstrated that the Olympics can be held sustainably without creating expensive, unused venues. Los Angeles in 2028 will use only existing or temporary venues, relocating two sports that couldn’t be staged locally to Oklahoma City.
Indonesia aims to impress by leveraging its experience from the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, which had more sports and athletes than the Olympics. Saudi Arabia will host the Asian Games in Riyadh in 2034, while Qatar did so in Doha in 2006 and will again in 2030.
“Indonesia has the infrastructure, ambition, and willingness to do it,” said Anindya Bakrie, Indonesia’s team leader in Paris. After Indonesia’s refusal to host Israeli teams at the Under-20 World Cup last year led to a tournament relocation, Bakrie acknowledged the need to address such issues if Indonesia’s bid is successful. “By bidding for 2036, we recognize the need to manage this issue properly and educate the public.”
If Istanbul were to win the bid—for 2036 or 2040—it might feature another grand opening ceremony by the Bosphorus strait. “With the right scenario and choreography, it could be very impressive,” İmamoğlu said. “You could dream of having 500,000 people watching the inauguration in such a setting.”
