5. India and Germany most discussed Olympic Summer Games bids
While Saudi Arabia may be plotting a silent path to hosting the Olympic Games (see #6), others have been more vocal.
Among “at least 10” regions currently in ongoing dialogue to host the 2036 Games according to the IOC, Germany and India have begun open domestic discussions in preparation for an election that may not happen until 2026, 2027 or later.
Germany started a series of public consultations and conducted a feasibility study, examining potential bids for the Summer Games in 2036 or 2040 in 5 possible regions including Leipzig, Dusseldorf, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin.
Hosting in 2036 has been considered problematic as it marks the uncomfortable anniversary of the Berlin 1936 Games that were opened by Hitler and orchestrated by the Nazi regime.
Also under consideration are the Winter Games in 2038 or 2040.
While public support has polled well, government support has remained elusive.
India is considering multiple cities to host the 2036 Olympics but Ahmedabad stands out as the apparent favorite with a masterplan in development for a sports complex centered around the Narendra Modi National Stadium for cricket.
In October the bid gained significant momentum when Mumbai hosted the annual IOC Session and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with IOC President Thomas Bach and promised that he “will leave no stone unturned” while pursuing the Games. At the same meeting the IOC added India’s favorite sport cricket to the Los Angeles 2028 program – important because the sport will also likely appear in Brisbane four years later setting it up for a possible reception in India in 2036.
[Top Story #4 on page 8]
