Seven nations vie for 2036 Olympic Games hosting rights

The International Olympic Committee revealed on Wednesday that seven countries have entered the race to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, reflecting broad global interest in staging the world's largest sporting event.

The bidding nations span multiple continents and regions. From Asia, India and Qatar have submitted candidacies, while South Korea represents East Asia. Europe's contenders include Turkey, Germany and Hungary. South Africa rounds out the field as the sole African nation in the running.

The expanded candidate list underscores the IOC's efforts to attract host cities from diverse geographic and economic backgrounds. The selection process will unfold over the coming months, with the IOC evaluating each nation's infrastructure, financial capacity, existing sporting venues and overall readiness to deliver a successful Games.

The host city for 2036 will be formally selected at an IOC session, with the decision expected later in the Olympic decision cycle. The competition reflects renewed confidence among nations seeking to capitalize on growing global interest in the Olympic movement, despite ongoing debates about the cost and long-term impact of hosting the Games.