South Africa has formally entered the competition to host the 2036 Olympic Games, aiming to bring the event to the African continent for the first time. The proposal would likely distribute events across three major cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. South Africa is one of seven nations scheduled to present its preliminary case to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) future bid committee in November. However, sports analysts currently consider the country a long-shot candidate, with most regarding the bid primarily as a stepping stone for the 2040 Games.
Qatar is currently viewed as the frontrunner in the selection process, partly because Asia has not staged the Summer Olympics since Tokyo 2020. However, hosting the Games in Doha would require moving the competition away from its traditional July-August window due to extreme summer heat. India, proposing the city of Ahmedabad, is considered another major contender, though its bid has faced challenges over governance issues and organizational delays. Hungary—whose bid incorporates events in neighboring Vienna, Austria, and Bratislava, Slovakia—also remains highly regarded, while Turkey, Germany, and South Korea round out the competing group.
The IOC recently released a guidance handbook outlining the evaluation process for candidate nations. Key criteria include venue readiness, athlete experience, political and public support, and long-term legacy plans. IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasized that candidate proposals must prioritize the needs of competitors, stating that delivering the best possible experience for athletes must be the starting point for every host. Interested nations have until the end of October to confirm their participation. The IOC will complete feasibility assessments by March 2027 and narrow down candidates in late 2028, before taking a final vote in the summer of 2029.